A PROSPECTIVE Labour MP has spoken up against disability hate crime.

Mike Le-Surf, Labour’s candidate for Basildon and East Thurrock has highlighted the importance of raising awareness against disability hate crime.

He said: "In the last two years there were 124,000 disability hate crimes. That's over 2000 per week and is a national disgrace.

“However only 3% of these were recorded by the police, and only 1% resulted in prosecutions.

“Hate crime can rob people of their confidence, their independence and sometimes their lives. I will do all I can to make sure this issue is a high priority for our police even in these times of austere coalition cuts."