New figures show disability hate crimes are still going unreported

20 May 2008

Action for Blind People recently carried out a survey on physical and verbal abuse towards blind and partially sighted people.

Shockingly, the results suggest that:

• A visually impaired person is half as likely as a sighted person to turn to the police if they experience verbal and/or physical abuse (4% v 9%)

• Visually impaired people are far more likely to be attacked than sighted people

• More than one in four visually impaired people don't feel safe going out in their local area

We think it is outrageous that blind and partially sighted people are being singled out for violence and harassment. We are working hard to combat these problems by:

• Raising awareness of this problem and urging visually impaired people to report any form of anti-social behaviour they encounter

• Providing practical support to visually impaired people suffering harassment, helping them to get re-housed if necessary

• Running visual awareness training programmes for police forces, colleges and other organisations, to bring a greater understanding of the day-to-day issues faced by blind and partially sighted people

Comments from individuals taking part in the survey included:

“I have had bricks and stones thrown at me, a football kicked at my face, eggs thrown at my window and kids spitting at me. I cannot wait to get away from this abuse and live in an area where I can feel safe.”
Denise

"When I get home and I haven’t encountered any problems then I always think that’s a miracle, rather than the norm"
Jonathan

“If you have been visually impaired for a number of years you take it as part and parcel of life, but it is wrong.”

"These kids tried to mug me and asked if I was blind and then that
was it."
Ron

"There was one time in Halifax where I was in a mugging. I was using a long cane, and going past a bus station a guy tried to mug me. I connected with him twice [with the cane], but I was told by the police not to use force. So what am I supposed to do when someone attacks me? Lie back and them walk all over me?"
Derek

Listen to one man telling his story (2.2 MB)

Find out more about Mark's experiences

Download summary report pdf version (71 KB)
Download summary report Word version (154 KB)

Our thanks to everyone who took part in the survey.

We want to build up a nationwide picture of where blind and partially sighted people have suffered abuse. If you know of any incident, please tell us about it.

If you have experienced abuse but feel worried about going to the police, there are Third Party Reporting Centres in place to help report your crime anonymously.

Download a list of Third Party Reporting Centres (85 KB)

Or you can contact Action for Blind People on our National Freephone Helpline 0800 915 4666 for further information and support.

Other sources of information and support: