Hate Crimes are Increasing at an Alarming Rate - Ian Bradwell
The latest figures for hate crimes show that there's been a significant increase for the fourth year running. There were 114,958 hate crimes recorded this year, a 54% increase compared to four years ago. Over this period we've seen a 46% increase of crimes motivated by race, crimes against LGBTQ people have more than doubled, and disabled people have seen crimes against them rise by 75%. This is a serious concern!
I myself as a blind person have had to deal with being called a 'spag' or 'mongol'. I've been told to 'look where I'm going', accused of faking my disability, and even have had objects thrown at my guide dogs. When you can't see, you are vulnerable. You can't fight back or even run away. If someone is hostile you have no way to protect yourself.
It doesn't help that the Government and tabloid newspapers have run campaigns demonising us, calling us 'scroungers' and blaming us for the country's problems. It's not surprising that members of the public increasingly follow their lead.
Politicians and newspapers need to understand that their words have consequences. Britain used to be a kinder and compassionate place, but that has been lost in recent years. A society should be judged, not by its highest successes, but by how it treats its most vulnerable. I hope we can become a kinder place moving forward.
Ian Bradwell was the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Leicester West constituency at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 General Elections, has previously stood for Leicester City Council Elections in the Braunstone and Rowley Fields Ward and is a member of the Leicester Liberal Democrats Executive Committee.