Borders MSP voices concerns about rise in abuse of disabled

Mr Hamilton’s plea, made at first minister’s question time last week, was prompted by statistics for July revealing a near 100% increase nationwide in reports of hate crime against those with disabilities, up from 22 in 2019 to 41.

“What action is the Scottish Government taking in response to Police Scotland figures suggesting that reports of abuse against disabled people almost doubled during the lockdown?” asked the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP.

Ms Sturgeon, MSP for Glasgow Southside, reassured her that her call would be heeded, saying: “Nobody should ever face abuse because they have a disability or an impairment.

“I am very clear that any form of hate crime, including abuse or prejudice, is totally unacceptable and must not be tolerated.

“The government takes these matters very seriously.

“We have met key organisations throughout the pandemic to listen to concerns directly from disabled people, and we recognise the damaging effect that abuse and hate crime have on victims, their families and communities.

“All of us have a responsibility to challenge that.

“We continue to work closely with Police Scotland and partners to tackle hate crime, including through developing campaign activities to raise awareness and encourage reporting.

“I strongly encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed such abuse – or any hate crime – to report it to the police.”

Mrs Hamilton also expressed concerns about social distancing rules making blind people more of a target for abuse, saying: “The population is concerned about the risk of contracting coronavirus, and social distancing rules have helped to reduce the spread of the virus.

“However, the rules are inherently visual and almost impossible for blind and partially-sighted people to adhere to.

“According to research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People, two-thirds of blind and partially-sighted people feel less independent than they felt before lockdown, because of the abuse that they receive daily as they struggle to cope with getting out and about and maintaining physical distance.

“Some individuals have been shouted at and spat on.

“Attitudes must change. Will the Scottish Government commit to a public awareness campaign to highlight the issue and ensure that public messages are underpinned by the reflection of how challenging physical distancing is for disabled people?”

Ms Sturgeon told her: “I will certainly consider that suggestion. It is important that we take every opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges that people with disabilities face, particularly during the pandemic, and the complete unacceptability of any abuse, discrimination, hate crime or stigma.

“This is a difficult time for everybody, but I agree that it is more difficult for people who have disabilities, for all the reasons that have been set out.

“We will consider all possible ways of helping people to deal with the challenges and, fundamentally, we will make sure that we continue to challenge prejudice, abuse and discrimination in all their forms.”