Got A Problem With Local Yobs And Anti-Social Behaviour?

Better cultivate a limp, then. Or buy a wheelchair on eBay if you want to see any action from your local council:

Local authorities that fail to protect disabled people from persistent harassment or anti-social behaviour will face legal action if they are found to be ignoring disability hate crimes, the Equality and Human Rights Commission will announce today.

So, they’ll now give more priority to these issues, while ignoring all others. Fantastic!

The inquiry comes amid mounting concerns that thousands of people with learning or other disabilities are being abused but are either too afraid of going to the authorities or fear they will not be taken seriously if they do.

And that’s different to all other people how, exactly?

Campaigners have long argued that although the police and local authorities have made great steps towards cracking down on racist and homophobic abuse in recent years, anti-disabled prejudice remains largely ignored.

Here’s a thought. Why not crack down on anti-social behaviour no matter to whom it is targeted?

Mike Smith, commissioner for the EHRC, said the results of the inquiry would be published in early 2011 and added that any public authorities found not to be doing enough to tackle the problem could face legal action.

So they’ll all ‘do something’ to be seen to be doing something.

And so more money will be poured uselessly down the drain of public finance…

The creation of the inquiry was welcomed last night by leading mental health and disability charities. Mark Goldring, Mencap chief executive, said: "For too long harassment and abuse that is criminal behaviour has been treated as antisocial behaviour. This has resulted in public bodies consistently failing to protect people with a learning disability and their families."

It’s resulted in public bodies failing everyone, Mark.

Everyone…