HATE CRIME AGAINST THOSE WITH AUTISM

Early day motion 172, tabled 4 June 2013 by Ian Mearns (Labour). Signed by 106 members.

That this House congratulates Kevin Healey, an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, who has been helping to raise awareness of hate crime, including cyber-bullying, trolling, stalking and physical bullying, against those suffering with autism through a highly successful Twitter campaign and a Global Anti-Bullying Autism Campaign; notes that the campaign has received the backing of celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, Katie Price and Melanie Sykes; further notes concern at the findings of a National Autistic Society survey that revealed 81 per cent of respondents having experience of verbal abuse, while 47 per cent reported that they have been victims of a physical assault, and that 24 per cent had been victims of cyber-bullying; and finally, calls on the Government to review urgently legislation and police recording of disability hate crime in order that victims can be confident that their suffering will be taken seriously and ended.

Signatures by party: Labour 66, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 11, DUP 6, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Scottish National Party 1.