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Antisocial definitions cause concern

Posted: 11 November 2004 | Subscribe Online


It is not yet clear whether antisocial behaviour legislation will become friend or foe to disabled people, Capability Scotland said.

Michelle Hegarty, director of communication at the disability organisation, voiced concern that the current definition of antisocial behaviour could discriminate against disabled people because they could display challenging behaviour that others might view as antisocial.

This could lead to disabled children and adults being made the subject of antisocial behaviour orders inappropriately, she said.
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Guidance on noise management was also a big problem for many parents with disabled children.

"When the noise is beyond their control it would be better to change the physical environment such as having sound insulation," she said.

But disabled people are also more likely to be victims of antisocial behaviour. Hegarty said that, with no general offence of harassment in Scotland and the police failing to use common law to deal with the problem, antisocial behaviour legislation could protect disabled people.


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