UN urges NI Executive to tackle racist violence

There have been a number of attacks in Northern Ireland in recent weeks

A United Nations committee has urged the Northern Ireland Executive to “adopt robust measures to prevent and combat paramilitary racist violence and intimidation against ethnic minorities and migrants in Northern Ireland”.

It has also urged it to “systematically collect information on these acts of intimidation and ensure such crimes are “promptly and effectively investigated, prosecuted and punished with appropriate sanctions and that victims have access to effective protection and redress”.

The recommendation follows a series of recent attacks in Northern Ireland.

More than 30 people have been charged in Northern Ireland in connection with the disturbances.

'No place for denial'

The recommendation has been published by the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

It notes the efforts of the “State party to tackle paramilitarism in Northern Ireland”, but is “concerned about reports of paramilitary groups and affiliated individuals perpetrating acts of racist violence and intimidation to deter persons belonging to ethnic minorities and migrants from taking up housing or establish business in certain areas”.

It says it is also concerned “about information indicating that victims do not always report these acts for fear of reprisals and that the response by the authorities and the police has been ineffective”.

The Committee On The Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland said it welcomed the “observations” of the UN Committee.

“There is no place for denial now that the UN has called out paramilitary racist violence and intimidation in Northern Ireland, it is time for concerted action,” it said.

“Stormont's current Tackling Paramilitarism plan doesn't even mention racist violence and intimidation, this needs to change.”

A cafe in south Belfast was among the properties attacked this month

Previously, on 6 August, following disorder in Belfast, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said it had “no doubt there is a paramilitary element to this but I am not in a position to say that this is the main organiser or orchestrator of these events”.

“However, we do keep an open mind to this and this will be part of our investigatory strategy,” she added.

On Friday, the SDLP MP for South Belfast, Claire Hanna, said the victims of the recent violence in Belfast "have made a life here and are doing far more in the community than people behind the attacks".

"I don’t believe there are one or two people [behind the attacks]," she added.

"I think this is organisational.

"I think this is being at the very least whipped up and accelerated by paramilitary organisations."

DUP assembly member Edwin Poots said there may be individuals with paramilitary connections involved but "they are not being sent out by an organisation".

He urged those behind the attacks to stop.

"This has to stop.

“This can’t go on."

The politicians were speaking after a Palestinian restaurant worker said he and his family had been left "emotionally broken" after suffering a racist attack on their home and then having to move 65 miles away.

'Must be condemned'

The Northern Ireland Executive and the PSNI were asked for comment in relation to the UN Committee’s statements.

The PSNI's Hate Crime lead, Ch Supt Sue Steen, said "all forms of hate crime must be condemned in the strongest terms".

She said the PSNI is "proactive" in its approach to the "prevention and detection of hate crime".

“We know that some victims do not report hate crime for a variety of reasons," she added.

"We have worked really hard to reach out to communities across Northern Ireland to increase confidence in policing and to encourage individuals to report to police.

"Where people report to police they can expect an enhanced level of investigation and supervision of investigations and support."

Ch Supt Steen said there is "an onus on us all to support those people who may be victims of hate crime, to support our communities impacted by hate, to challenge prejudice and to support police in bringing offenders to justice by making any relevant information available to police".

“We are also alive to the potential involvement of individuals associated with paramilitarism in the recent protests and associated disorder in a number of areas in Northern Ireland," she added.

"We will continue to work with partners and in communities to play our part in trying to eradicate all forms of paramilitary activity and influence."

Ch Supt Steen said the PSNI, along with the Department of Justice, continues to fund the Hate Crime Advocacy Service to support victims.