VICTIMS of disability hate crime in North Wales have been urged to report incidents to the police following concerns from charities over the offences nationally.

Research by leading disability charities Leonard Cheshire and United Response has revealed that despite 268 incidents of disability-related hate crime being reported to police in Wales over the last year, only four resulted in formal charges.

Findings from the joint investigation were released today (Thursday) ahead of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which starts on Saturday, October 10.

Both charities have raised concerns that the number of disability hate crimes continue to rise across England and Wales, with more than 7,300 crimes committed last year.

The three police forces which reported their figures in Wales were North Wales Police, Gwent Police and Dyfed-Powys Police.

According to the figures provided by the charities, North Wales saw a reduction in the overall number of hate crime incidents, from 108 in 2018/19 to 95 in 2019/20, as well as a reduction in the number of hate crimes involving violence from 55 in 2018/19 to 50 in 2019/20.

By comparison Dyfed-Powys Police saw 65 overall incidents during 2019/20 - which represented an increase of more than 75 per cent on the previous year - and Gwent Police saw 108 for 2019/20, a decrease of 9.2 per cent on the previous 12 months.

The North Wales force also saw no change in the number of hate crime incidents which took place online - with five recorded in both 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Both Gwent and Dyfed-Powys police saw rises in this category over the same time period, according to the data.

The number of incidents resulting in a charging decision in North Wales fell from seven in 2018/19 to two in 2019/20.

In a joint statement, Leonard Cheshire and United Response said: “As this abhorrent crime continues to rise year on year, it’s time for the authorities, Government and online platforms to start taking this damaging behaviour more seriously. "Offenders must face appropriate repercussions and be educated on the impact of their cowardly acts, while increased funding for advocacy services is also urgently needed.

"Victims need to have better access to support across the entire reporting, investigative and judicial process.

"This is the only way to make victims feel safe and confident in reporting these crimes to the police, helping lead to more concrete charges and ultimately convictions.

"With online hate crime showing no signs of slowing down, provisions also need to be made to make the internet a less threatening place for disabled people with effective monitoring and recording of hateful activity.

"Disabled people must also be involved in the development of digital strategies to help ensure this type of damaging behaviour doesn’t slip through the cracks.”

Glyn Meredith, Leonard Cheshire’s director for Wales urged the Welsh Government to act.

He said that he was “shocked and disheartened to hear that instances of online hate crime are on the rise."

"As a charity that advocates for digital inclusion, we want to ensure that the internet is a safe place for disabled people," he said.

"Given the recent Covid-19 pandemic, many disabled people have been confined to their homes, with only digital technology to keep them connected to the outside world.

"The Welsh Government needs to demonstrate its commitment to online safety for disabled people in Wales and consider taking similar measures to Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Bill to protect disabled users online.”

Greg George, head of diversity at North Wales Police, said: “North Wales Police takes the management of disability Hate Crime extremely seriously.

"We have two dedicated diversity officers supporting the force with management of disability hate crime and actively working in the community to encourage the report of these incidents.

"We would urge anybody who is a victim of such a crime to report it to the police and we will work with our partners in the criminal justice system to bring offenders to justice and find a successful resolution for victims when cases are unable to be brought to court.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “No person in Wales should have to tolerate prejudice or hate crime.

"We are committed to making sure all victims of hate crime are supported and perpetrators are held to account.

"We are working with All Wales People First and the National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre to raise awareness and increase the confidence of people to report crimes.

“Hate crime legislation is reserved to the UK Government, but we are working closely with the Hate Crime Criminal Justice Board to increase reporting and improve the rate of prosecutions.

"We also fund specialist organisations to provide advocacy and support for victims of hate crime in Wales.

"We will use every lever available to make Wales a fair and just society, free from discrimination and inequality.”

The Crown Prosecution Service has not yet published its hate crime report for 2019-20, but in respect of disability hate crime its 2018-19 report states: "The number of prosecutions completed significantly decreased from 752 in 2017-18 to 579 in 2018-19 – a decrease of 173 prosecutions (23 per cent).

"The conviction rate decreased from 75 per cent to 72.4 per cent.

"The number of receipts from the police decreased significantly from 625 in 2017-18 to 367 – a decrease of 41.3 per cent."

Among the priorities outlined in the Crown Prosecution Service report were ensuring legal guidance on Disability Hate Crime remains up-to-date and the Prosecution College course assisting prosecutors to identify and remove barriers to accessing justice for disabled people.

The Crown Prosecution Service was approached for comment.