Public Policy & Campaigns

Voice UK has always been very aware of the injustices that many people with learning disabilities face and is determined in using our experience and knowledge to campaign for change. We know from many of the clients with whom we have contact that people with learning disabilities sometimes have difficulties in getting access to justice – perhaps they are not treated properly by the police or find it hard to get someone to take them seriously when a crime has happened to them. Our policy and campaigns work focuses on injustices in the legal system, measures to prevent abuse and on making sure that those who are employed to work with people with learning disabilities are suitable to do so.

Below are some of the issues on which we campaign, with links to documents which set out how public policy and practice should be reformed. If you require information or advice on any policy issue, please do not hesitate to contact us (voice@voiceuk.org.uk or 01332 291 042).

Disability Hate Crime

Disability hate crime is a direct attack on a person’s identity and an infringement of their human rights. It is pervasive and a regular feature of the lives of many people with disabilities. Yet awareness of these crimes is low, prosecutions rare and the actions of too many frontline practitioners in need of improvement. Voice UK is working with criminal justice agencies, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, other non-governmental organisations and people with disabilities to address these problems. Our evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights describes the problems, the notable cases and the solutions (see below).

Forced Marriages of People with Learning Disabilities

From our contact with professionals it is clear that forced marriages of people with learning disabilities are far from rare and are likely to make up a notable minority of the cases of forced marriage that occur every year. This is an issue which Voice UK is campaigning to bring to wider public attention and to improve official responses to.

Briefing on the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill

Briefing on EDM 1568 (of session 2007/08) on Forced Marriages of People with Disabilities

Vetting and Barring

Voice UK is committed to ensuring that potential abusers are prevented from working with children and vulnerable adults. A key part of such prevention is effective and proportionate vetting and barring measures. It is vitally important that those who have been found to have abused children and vulnerable adults are barred from working with these groups. It is equally important that vetting identifies those who may be a risk to children and vulnerable adults and provides employers with the information they need to assess risk. Voice UK is active in ensuring the effectiveness of vetting and barring measures.

Response to consultation on barring under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 /Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

Evidence to Joint Committee on Human Rights

Voice UK gave written evidence on crime and abuse to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into the human rights of adults with learning disabilities. This evidence described both the crimes and abuse experienced by adults with learning disabilities and the responses of public bodies to these crimes. It also suggested reforms.

Original evidence to JCHR

Supplemental evidence to JCHR

Supplemental evidence to JCHR on disability hate crime

Clarification of evidence to JCHR