In 2006 Jo left the NHS to work at United Response where she remains today as a North Learning and Development Manager. It is her interest in safeguarding that led to a chance encounter with the West Yorkshire Police Hate Crime Coordinator that she began to recognise that potentially some incidences of hate crime towards people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, autism and physical disabilities may go unreported. Through this discussion with the West Yorkshire Police Hate Crime Coordinator, Jo developed a drive and passion for people with disabilities and hate crime, seeing the impact that disability hate crimes can have on the victim and those ones around them because the victim is targeted for who they are or who the attacker thinks they are.
Working in joint partnership with West Yorkshire Police, CPS and HMCts Jo will be sharing the work to date on what they have done so far to engage with victims, communities, statutory services, families and independent sectors.
