Mencap calls for life sentences for crimes against the disabled

The law on sex crimes against people with a learning disability needs to be tightened to improve conviction rates, Mencap, the charity for mentally handicapped children and adults, recommended this week.Its report, Behind Closed Doors, found that sexual abuse among disabled people is four times higher than for the rest of the population.

But only 6% of suspects are convicted in the estimated 1,400 new cases of sexual abuse against people with a learning disability each year, owing to detection and evidence problems.

'We know sex offenders target vulnerable people with learning disabilities because detection and penalties are much lower,' said Richard Kramer, Mencap's head of campaigns.Currently, the maximum sentence for sexually abusing a person with a severe learning disability is only two years; Mencap said it should be the same as the maximum sentence for rape, which is life imprisonment.