The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have released details of successful prosecutions of hate crime in the region as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week.
In order that communities understand that the CPS treat hate crime very seriously – and to mark Hate Crime Awareness Week – examples of successful cases that have been through the courts in Wessex have been published, including a case on the Isle of Wight which involved two victims with learning difficulties being terrorised by a group of youths.
Steve Hoolohan, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor and Senior Hate Crime lead for the CPS Wessex (Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Wessex) said:
“Hate Crime is driven by prejudice and hostility based upon a person’s race, gender, sexuality, religion, age or disability. It affects not only victims but also communities, creating an atmosphere of fear and distress and has no place in our society.
“I hope the publication of these cases will encourage more victims to come forward and report incidents to the police, knowing that the CPS will do all it can to support them and bring offenders to justice.
“These are cases that have been scrutinised by our Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel, which brings together members of the community who have an interest in Hate Crime to provide a vital objective independent assessment of our performance and suggest ways we can improve”.
Professor Chris Lewis, from Portsmouth University, independent facilitator of CPS Wessex Scrutiny and Involvement Panel said:
“The Panel consists of volunteers drawn from different community groups. It looks in detail at 20-30 completed Hate Crime cases each year and draws attention of the Police, CPS and the Courts to where we feel improvements could be made. I would like to thank all members of the Panel for their work during the year in scrutinising Hate Crime Cases.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are not a closed group and I would like to encourage others with a concern for hate crime to apply to join the Scrutiny Panel, in particular young people, victims or friends of victims.
“I am sure that the cases that come to the justice system are just the tip of the iceberg. Many more go unreported, thus denying justice to the victims. It is vital to improve the reporting of Hate Crimes and I urge all those who are victims of Hate Crime or who see Hate Crimes being committed to report the incidents to the Police. It is also important to give evidence against offenders in court if requested.
“I should also like to encourage local communities to discuss the work of the panel and to send in ways in which they feel the prosecution of hate crime could be improved.”
[alert-warning]Disability (Isle of Wight prosecution)
Charges: Harassment section 2 Protection from Harassment Act 1998
Outcome: Guilty plea, three defendants given 12 month youth rehabilitation order with supervision order, curfew and prohibition from socialising together. One defendant given detention and training order totalling for eight months in custody, reduced to six months on appeal. Sentences increased under s146 Criminal Justice Act as it was a disability hate crime. All given 12 months restraining order preventing them going to the victim’s house or contacting them.
The victims, who both have learning disabilities, live in a supported living bungalow for vulnerable people. These individuals were victims to a catalogue of harassment over the course of six months by the defendants. It was initially thought by staff at the Centre that the victims were making up things or overreacting, however it was later discovered this was not the fact and the victims were advised by police not to go out and confront the youths.
Over the six months incidents included the defendants knocking on windows and doors (on one occasion whilst wearing masks), throwing stones at windows and a pumpkin at the door, climbing over fences, abuse in the street and criminal damage (window smashed, Halloween scarecrow damaged, and damage to electricity box supplying the property).[/alert-warning]
