Dis/ableist criminology and domestic colonisation: conceptualising disabled people’s experience of hate and home-based violence

Abstract

This article develops the concept of ‘domestic colonisation’ to conceptualise how disabled people experience continuous forms of victimisation in the locality of their own homes. Domestic colonisation, often perpetrated by neighbours or local people, manifests as multiple forms of victimisation including, ‘hate crimes’, ‘hate relationships,’ ‘mate crimes,’ and ‘cuckooing.’ These interpersonal forms of victimisation are frequently misinterpreted as low-level offences or antisocial behaviour, leaving victims/survivors trapped in cycles of abuse. Drawing on case notes from the North East Connected Voice Hate Crime Advocacy Service (HCAS), the study highlights how disabled people face persistent abuse, coercive control, and exploitation within their domestic settings. Through a dis/ableist criminological lens, this study examines the intersectional factors, such as race and sexuality, that shape these experiences, emphasising the cumulative psycho-emotional impact on victims. This article advocates for a re-evaluation of criminal justice responses to protect disabled people experiencing this form of domestic victimisation.