Comments over missing children appeals 'shameful' - Boutcher
The PSNI chief constable was speaking at a public meeting of the Policing Board in Belfast
- Published
Jon Boutcher has said dozens of "shameful comments" were posted online in response to police appeals about missing children from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The Police Chief of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable was speaking at a public meeting of the Policing Board in Belfast.
"What is going on? Such naked racism has become all too common and blatant in the online space," he said.
There has been a recent upsurge in race hate crimes, including disorder in June in Ballymena linked to immigration.
Mr Boutcher said 107 police officers were injured dealing with the trouble.
Some 62 people have been arrested and 57 charged in connection with the disturbances.
He described 14 of the suspects as "juveniles".
Mr Boutcher said he was "extremely worried" about how social media is used to incite racially-motivated crimes.
He added: "Everyone across Northern Ireland society needs to call out this hate, violence and intimidation".
The PSNI needs more officers to help deal with the situation, he told the board.
Later, Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck told the board that UDA members were believed to have been involved in a number of attacks on the homes of Catholics in north Belfast in May.
The PSNI does not believe "they were sanctioned at a senior level".
Mr Boutcher said the police were "throwing the kitchen sink" at bringing those responsible for recent racist and sectarian incidents to justice.
"I'll never duck these issues... I don't care if you are part of the UDA or whatever acronym you want to use, pack it up. Society doesn't behave like this.
"Whatever side of the street you come from, this is hateful, criminal, abhorrent behaviour. So it doesn't matter if you're part of a group or an individual, just stop it and we're coming after you and we'll arrest you, because it should not be happening."