File photo dated 06/08/13 of a person using a laptop. Hate-fuelled abuse of disabled people online has soared by more than 50% in the last year, according to police figures obtained by a charity. There were 9,252 disability hate crimes reported to police across England and Wales in 2020/21 - up slightly from the previous year, according to the disability charities Leonard Cheshire and United Response. Issue date: Wednesday October 6, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story CRIME Disability. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire