Home > KMC Blog index > Current article
Participated with a Hate Crime event
Please Note:
Because of a serious matter which occurred when participating, the organisation's name will not be mentioned in this article. Further details are near the bottom of this article.
I was invited to take part in a specialised focus group addressing issues and lived experiences related to hate crimes on public transport.
This occurred by a half-day event organised by a nationwide care provider.
During the day the provider presented their research findings with different examples of lived experience and expressions on this matter. In addition, they included in their research the statistics on disability hate crime reporting in England and Wales.
From the findings, the report numbers of disability hate crimes were reduced from the previous year. However, part of their questions only made a conclusion that this is not the same as my recent experiences on public transport.
Other examples they addressed include how buses are more frequent for disability hate crime than any other travel mode. How women experiences more crimes in comparassion to men, transgender or non-binary people. They also asked if the level of under reporting to the police is surprising and have addressed what are the main challenges.
As part of the research, it also includes the challenges when reporting to the police examples of lived experiences in different travel modes on trains, trams, underground as well as buses, along with suggestions that should be improved.
Analysis document
I will be presenting some of my experiences in a special insight and analysis document on this matter. This will be presented to transport operators and authorities when the publication is completed. A special version of this document is to be developed for everyone to view online. For confidential reasons, it will not include my personal experiences. Instead, this version of the document will focus more on my analysis and the bigger picture through my observations.
Watch out for further updates on this website and via social media
My involvement is linked with
Visit my awareness website Plus Value Awareness to discover my awareness proejcts for hidden differences
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Despite taking part in the research group in Birmingham in November 2024, I had to discontinue my involvement due to the appropriate mistreatment by the provider. The organisation failed to treat me with dignity as the team associated with the research group has mistreated me inappropriately as unintelligent & a nuisance. Despite that I was very conscientious and considerate within a group environment when attending, I was wrongly shunned inappropriately for the wrong reasons. Also, I find the correspondence from one of the member of staff from the organisation was quite over-persistent and unnecessarily pressurising.
I was due to participate in the second part of the research group in January 2025, but the organisation deliberately excluded me without explanation. I conclude that the organisation and the team involved were discriminatory. Because of this, I made a complaint against the organisation and have notified the transport acessible manager who invited me to this event.
In conclusion, I expect very high standards when I contribute to an event. Especially when sharing my life experiences. I expect to be treated with dignity and valuing my human rights. I felt the organisation failed these important standards.
Since my complaint, I felt that the organisation had not listened to my voice enough and on the time on completing this article the organisation has failed to respond to my satisfactory. Therefore, I had no choice but to no longer participate with this organisation.
Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant
With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.
Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions twice a year at Birmingham's NEC for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity.
In 2022, Keith become a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the commonwealth games
Follow me on Social media
