VICTIMS of hate crime have urged people to report incidents if they witness them following a unique stage performance.

Social Care charity Quarriers held a special event to raise awareness about disability hate crime in Glasgow yesterday.

The event at the William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre saw people supported by the charity take to the stage to perform We Hate Bullying: It's A Crime before politicians, staff and campaigners involved in the WAR on Hate Crime campaign.

The specially-commissioned play aimed to highlight the experiences of people who have faced disability hate crime, emphasising the need for people to report incidents when they see them taking place.

John Wheeler, a 30-year-old from Glasgow has learning difficulties and mental health problems and was one of those taking part.

Over the last two and half years, John has suffered abuse due to his disabilities and said: "I've had abuse, people have thrown eggs at me, stones and used abusive language.

"It makes me feel frightened, sometimes it makes me not want to go out because the people might be there.

"Sometimes if you go on a bus you're worried about it and it makes you not want to go on the bus too.

"Quarriers have helped me a lot and this event is to help people with disability lead a normal life."

" I would say to anyone who is in this situation to please report it.

"It will get sorted, maybe not over night but it will get sorted.

"I would also say to people if they see something happening on the street to also report it."

The latest figures released by Police Scotland and the Crown Office showed reports showed that reports of hate crimes towards disabled people increased by 270% between 2011 and 2015.

Michael McMahon, MSP and convenor of the Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on disability, said recent hate crime legislation has helped the problem but more needed ot be done.

Mr McMahon said: "Clearly having the hate crime legislation put in place was a significant step forward.

"It has become clear that that in itself is not going to address the day-to-day problems that people with disabilities are experiencing because of the attitudes of a minority of society who destroy people's lives because of intolerance.

"The event allowed us to raise the profile of the issue, make sure that people are aware of the specific problems that people are encountering and also ask wider society to not tolerate people who inflict hatred on others because they have a disability."

Alice Drife, Quarriers Chief Executive, said: "The cast in today’s drama are all people who have experienced shocking hate crimes and to have them tell their stories to the audience is a real testament to their bravery, and also demonstrates the urgency and necessity behind anti-hate campaigns."

To support the Quarriers' campaign, visit www.quarriers.org.uk/get-involved/war-on-hate-crime/.