Fear of Hostility Stops Many Disabled People Going Out

Author: Leonard Cheshire Disability
Published: 18 Oct 2017 - Updated: 22 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This research reports on a UK national survey of 1,609 disabled adults aged 18 and over, commissioned by Leonard Cheshire Disability and conducted by ComRes, which found that concern about hostile behavior kept roughly one in three (31 percent) from going out in their local area. Around 30 percent said they had experienced hostility motivated by their disability, most often face to face, while 7 percent reported abuse online or through a messaging app, and more than a quarter of victims (27 percent) did not report the crime to police. The findings matter to disabled people, carers, charities, police forces, and policymakers, since they suggest that official hate crime figures released the same week by the Home Office may understate the true scale of offending. The data is useful because it puts numbers to a problem that often stays hidden, showing how fear alone can restrict everyday freedom and confidence for people with disabilities, including seniors and those already isolated in their homes.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Around 22 percent of disabled adults reported hostility in person. This was the most common setting for abuse.
• 2 - The survey ran in June and July of 2017 and was carried out by ComRes. Its findings were published to coincide with Home Office hate crime figures.
• 3 - Leonard Cheshire Disability runs an advocacy service specifically for victims of disability hate crime. A similar police partnership scheme operates in Northern Ireland.
• 4 - Chief Executive Neil Heslop said some survivors were left so traumatized they stayed trapped in their homes out of fear. He added that many incidents go unreported because victims do not know how to report them.

Topic Definition

Disability Hate Crime

Disability hate crime refers to any criminal offense or hostile act that is committed against a person, or perceived to be committed, because of hostility or prejudice toward their disability or impairment. It can take many forms, from verbal abuse, harassment, and intimidation to physical assault, and it increasingly occurs online or through messaging apps as well as in person. Beyond the immediate harm, this kind of targeted hostility often erodes a person's confidence and sense of safety, and research shows it can discourage disabled people from leaving their homes at all. Many incidents go unreported, either because victims are unsure how to report them or believe they will not be taken seriously, which means official statistics rarely capture the full picture.

Overview

Fear of hostility could be stopping large numbers of disabled people going out in their communities, says Leonard Cheshire Disability as it reveals the results of a UK national survey of disabled adults aged over 18. Publication of these findings coincides with the release by the Home Office today (17 October) of latest annual figures for hate crime reported to police forces in England and Wales.

1,609 disabled adults were surveyed in the Leonard Cheshire Disability commissioned research. Around 1 in 3 (30%) disabled adults surveyed said they had experienced hostile behaviour motivated by their disability. Shockingly, roughly the same proportion (31%) said concern about hostile behaviour had prevented them going out in their local area.

Meanwhile, the Home Office figures could be the tip of the iceberg of overall offending rates.

The Leonard Cheshire research found one in four (27%) disabled people who experience crimes motivated by their disability didn't report it to police. Leonard Cheshire Disability runs an advocacy service aimed at helping victims of disability hate crime specifically. Disabled people often experienced hostile behaviour face-to-face. But the charity's survey also revealed that almost 1 in 10 said their experiences (7%) happened either online or via a messaging app.

Neil Heslop, Leonard Cheshire Disability Chief Executive, Said:

"Hate crime can be totally devastating for disabled people and rob them of their confidence."

"Some survivors have been left so traumatised they remain trapped in their homes out of fear."

"Shocking though the police figures are, large numbers of hate crime incidents against disabled people go unreported simply because victims don't know how to report these crimes."

"In some instances, disabled people may think that no one will even listen."

"As well as greater awareness of disability hate crime and its impact - we need more services that support victims recover from their ordeals."

ComRes Survey Results 2017 (June - July)

• Three in ten (30%) disabled adults aged 18+ in the UK say they have experienced hostile behaviour motivated by their disability.
• Reported hostile behaviour is most likely to be in person, accordingly to one in five (22%) disabled adults who say they have experienced this.
• One in 15 (7%) report experiencing hostile behaviour motivated by their disability either online or via a messaging app.
• Concern about hostile behaviour has reportedly prevented one in three (31%) disabled adults from going out in their local area.
• Base: All UK disabled adults aged 18+ (n=1,609)
• The majority (73%) of disabled people who were victims of crimes motivated by their impairment say they reported the crime to the police. However, more than 1 in 4 (27%) did not.
• Base: UK disabled adults aged 18+ who believe their crime was motivated by their disability (n= 142)

Leonard Cheshire Disability runs a successful scheme in Northern Ireland with the police to support disability hate crime survivors and we would hope to see programs like this expanded across the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is disability hate crime

Disability hate crime is any criminal act carried out against a person because of hostility or prejudice toward their disability, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault.

How can someone report a disability hate crime in the UK

Victims can report to their local police force by calling 101 for non emergencies or 999 in an emergency, and many charities offer advocacy support to help with the process.

What is third party reporting for hate crime

Third party reporting lets a victim report an incident through a trusted organization or centre rather than going directly to the police, which can feel less intimidating.

Does hostility online count as a hate crime

Yes, abuse or harassment carried out online or through messaging apps can be treated as a hate crime when it is motivated by hostility toward a person disability.

Who was Leonard Cheshire

Leonard Cheshire was a decorated British air force officer who founded the charity that carries his name to support disabled people across the UK and beyond.

What support exists for victims of disability hate crime

Support includes police victim services, charity advocacy schemes, counselling, and dedicated programs such as police partnerships that help survivors recover and stay safe.

Why do many disabled people not report hostility

Common reasons include not knowing how to report, fear of not being believed, worry about reprisals, and a sense that nothing will change if they speak up.

What is the difference between a hate incident and a hate crime

A hate incident is any act that a victim perceives as motivated by prejudice, while a hate crime is a hate incident that also amounts to a criminal offense.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What gives this survey its weight is the gap it exposes between what police record and what disabled people actually live through, with more than a quarter of victims staying silent because they doubt anyone will listen or simply do not know where to turn. The abuse is not confined to the street either - a notable share now arrives through screens and messaging apps, widening the reach of harassment into the home. For families, support workers, and the police forces of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the takeaway is practical rather than abstract: awareness campaigns and dedicated victim support services, like the advocacy scheme highlighted here, are what stand between a frightened person and a life spent indoors.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Leonard Cheshire Disability and published on 18 Oct 2017, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.