SSHC News

Learning Disability Hate Crime Pack for Sale

Smile! Stop Hate Crime are selling a pack aimed at adults with learning disabilities with 11 session plans, video clips, themed discussions and practical activities all about hate crime, how and where to report it, and how to keep safe in a variety of situations.

We know that 9 out of 10 people with learning disabilities experience hate crime in their day to day lives. Give them essential information with this pack to keep them safer.

See a presentation from the pack attached about Keeping Safe in cafes, pubs and on the street.

The pack costs £40 plus £2 postage.

Please contact Denise on (0115) 9209524 for more details

Smile Stop Hate Crime has been visiting schools as part of Anti-bullying week sharing a message about disability hate crime. Old Basford Primary School and Brookhill Leys Primary School are the places that were visited. Mickey and Wayne came out and talked to the children about what it is like to have a learning disability and how bullying affect their lives.

We did some interactive games and a special Learning Disability Hate Crime QUIZ!! It is great that the children meet people with learning disabilites, hear about their lives and realise that they have the same hobbies and interests as the children, including supporting Nottingham Forest and going on roller coasters!

Learning Disability Hate Crime

The former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord Ken Macdonald says we're still failing victims of disability hate crime - 18 months after a damning review of the criminal justice system recommended an overhaul of how we handle cases. He says that our approach to crimes against the disabled in 2014 is in the same place that race hate crime was before the murder of Stephen Lawrence 21 years ago. He adds the Crown Prosecution Service is still failing to keep accurate records of the crimes and prosecutors aren't pushing hard enough for sentence 'uplifts' in cases where disability is a motivating factor. The CPS says it is about to address the recommendations in the Joint Criminal Justice Review which was published in March 2013.

Smile! Stop Hate Crime at International Children's Day - Worksop Nottinghamshire

Smile! Stop Hate Crime met members of the local community at The Canch, Worksop for International Children's Day. The Polish Community Group joined the fun with displays and information on Poland. In addition there were delicious dishes and cakes from Poland to try. The park transformed into a giant picnic site with many people coming from all over Worksop to enjoy the day in the sun shine.

Roger Grange and Denise Hickman from SSHC speaking at the launch of Nottingham Citizns Hate Crime campaign, on Monday June 9th at St Nic's Church, attended by 250 people, including Paddy Tipping, Police and Crime Commissioner and Chris Eyers, Chief Constable of Notts Police.

Karen Aspley from the Smile! Stop Hate Crime Campaign met Green Party Leader, Natalie Bennett and Green Party candidate, David Kerwan in Newark on 29 May 2014.

Karen asked:

"How the party would defend the rights of vulnerable people in society?"

"Is there anything their party could do to make Disability Hate Crime a crime in its own right?"

Currently Disability Hate Crime is not a crime anyone can be charged with directly, it is considered only as a motivating factor in other forms of crime. This does mean people convicted of a crime can get a longer sentence, but is this enough? We feel that legislation should be improved to make it easier to gain convictions against people who abuse people with learning disabilities just because they are different.

Natalie Bennett agreed to look into things to see if anything could be done.

Keep Yourself Safe From Hate Crime

New Learning Disability Hate Crime Pack

available from Smile! Stop Hate Crime, Nottingham Mencap

Smile! Stop Hate Crime, a project run by Nottingham Mencap, has created an interactive and fun learning pack to help people with learning disabilities to keep safe in the community. The pack contains a DVD with resources, clips and printed guide designed to help support the running of sessions on disability hate crime and keeping safe; at home, on the street, when using transport and most importantly of all with other people.

For a copy of the guide please contact Nottingham Mencap:

Tel: 0115 9209524 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cost per pack £40.00, plus £2.00 postage and packing

PLEASE NOTE: Smile! Stop Hate Crime (SSHC) is a partnership project between Nottingham Mencap, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Councils. Packs free of charge for these organisations.

"Knowing how to keep safe is an essential skill in living a fulfilling life in the community."

Karen Aspley - Smile! Stop Hate Crime