Posted 22.10.12
A report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission concludes that authorities need to take further steps to ensure that harassment of disabled people is taken more seriously and doesn't escalate into the situation Fiona Pilkington and her disabled daughter Francecca found themselves in five years ago.
In October 2007, Fiona Pilkington and her disabled daughter Francecca Hardwick died after years of abuse, despite countless calls for help to the authorities. The inquest showed that early intervention and preventative action are essential, and that authorities have to work in partnership to tackle this problem effectively.
In 2011, the Commission carried out a ground-breaking inquiry into disability related harassment, which found that there was a systemic failure by public authorities and transport operators to prevent disability related harassment.
A follow-up report issued now details the responses since then from government, authorities and transport operators. It shows that many are taking significant steps, making progress, individually and collectively, towards making a real difference. These steps include:
But the Commission's evidence shows that actions taken to prevent and tackle harassment are patchy with some authorities doing nothing or very little at all.
Click here for further details of the Commissions report and its recommendations.
