Abuse of the disabled ‘hides in plain sight’

By ALASTAIR DALTON

 

DISABLED people are suffering harassment and abuse because of the systemic failure of public bodies to prevent such attacks, according a watchdog’s inquiry published today.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found many people with disabilities accepted abuse as inevitable but often did not report it for fear of repercussions or not being believed.

The conclusions of the Britain-wide inquiry followed a detailed examination of ten of the most serious cases, including the torture and murder of Laura Milne, a 19-year-old with learning disabilities, in Aberdeen in 2007.

It also looked at the case of a 30-year-old woman with learning difficulties who suffered physical and sexual abuse in the Borders by her carer and two other men, who were jailed nine years ago.

The report, Hidden in Plain Sight, said Scotland had made significant progress in adult protection law and policy since devolution in 1999, but public authorities had still to understand the problem and act effectively.

Kaliani Lyle, commissioner for the EHRC in Scotland, said: “The issue is ‘hiding in plain sight’ because, as a society, we have failed to recognise the nature and scale of the problem.

“Authorities must address this as a matter of urgency.”