Revealing Incidents of Hate Crime on Public Transport: Working with Disabled People

Abstract

This chapter helps the reader to understand to the process involved in collating the experiences of disabled people who have been victims of hostility. Ground-breaking methods were used to collect data from a group of people who, generally speaking, have been excluded from participating in such research. Interviews and focus groups were the mainstays of the author’s study. Adaptive techniques were utilised to capture the thoughts of people with physical, mental and communication difficulties. Aside from victim data, data were additionally collected from the authorities who oversee UK public transport and the companies which provide it. Finally, the staff members who operate buses and trains were interviewed. These elements were incorporated to provide a rounded understanding of what is being done in the UK to safeguard disabled people from hostility on public transport services. Techniques of analysis, methodological reflection and areas which presented problems are also presented in this chapter.