We are delighted to be continuing our work on tackling hate crime with new funding from the Ferries Accessibility Fund.  This fund from Transport Scotland aims to improve the accessibility of ferries and ports and to enhance the ferry travelling experience of disabled people.

Disability Equality Scotland has secured funding to pilot a Hate Crime Charter on the ferries network.  This project builds on the success of the pilot carried out in 2019 on the train and bus networks. The aim of this specific project is to trial a Hate Crime Charter, essentially a poster which raises awareness of hate crime and encourages recognition and reporting.  The Charter acts as a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime on public transport.

Emma Scott, our Operations Manager said “Too many disabled people face victimisation and harassment on public transport.  The Hate Crime Charter has been a culmination of consultation and engagement with disabled people who tell us they would feel more confident to travel on a service committed to the Charter.  Following a hugely successful pilot on the bus and rail networks, we now want to ensure the ferry network understand the importance of recognising and reporting hate crime on behalf of their disabled passengers.”

We are delighted to welcome Fiach O’Broin-Molloy to the team as the dedicated project coordinator for this piece of work, which will run until March 2021 and inform the national roll out of the Hate Crime Charter.  

The Hate Crime Charter will be hosted electronically on both the Accessible Travel Hub and the Disability Safety Hub for providers who wish to pledge their commitment to tackling hate crime.