POLICE are urging more victims of “mate crime” to come forward, after a new survey revealed shockingly high numbers of autism sufferers felt they had been targeted by “friends”.

Eighty per cent of people with autism who were surveyed in the North West said they had been “bullied” by a friend.

The figures echo a wider report undertaken by the National Autistic Society last year where almost half claimed they had been abused.

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Police say the figures do not necessarily mean there is an increase in crime, just that more people are recognising it as an offence. They are now encouraging more people to come forward to report incidents of “mate crime”, where those with a disability are bullied or cheated by so-called friends.

Ch Insp Ian Mills said: “We want more people to come forward. The autism report highlights an important issue but the message has got to aim across the board. These are crimes against people with disabilities or perceived disabilities.”

Emma Shepherd, of the NAS, said: “People on the autism spectrum can find it difficult to interpret others’ motivations and, left unsupported, many are taken advantage of or manipulated.

“We have heard stories of autistic people subjected to long-term financial or physical abuse, or forced to do things they do not want to do, including criminal behaviour or having people stay in their home.

This type of abuse, sometimes referred to as ‘mate crime’, has no place in modern society and must be addressed urgently. To tackle ‘mate crime’, care assessors must make sure they recognise the needs of those at risk of abuse and neglect and provide appropriate support.

“Greater awareness of the issue is crucial, firstly so that people on the spectrum, families and support workers can look out for the signs and know where they can go for support, and secondly so that the police understand how to communicate effectively with people on the spectrum and are aware of their particular vulnerability to crimes like this.”

The NAS surveyed 1,344 autistic adults in England in 2014, finding that 27 per cent had money or possessions stolen by someone they thought of as a friend, 37 per cent had been forced or manipulated to do something they did not want to do by someone they thought of as a friend, and 44 per cent said they stay at home because they are afraid of being abused or harassed.