Belfast Pride: Police treat incident before parade as hate crime

The footage was filmed ahead of the Belfast Pride parade

An incident where a street preacher was filmed accusing gay people of being rapists and child sex abusers is being treated as a hate crime by police.

The incident was filmed in Royal Avenue ahead of the Belfast Pride parade on Saturday.

Supt Christian Bradley from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers who were at the scene "gathered evidence on body-worn video".

He said the footage was currently being reviewed by detectives.

On Monday, the PSNI confirmed the actions and behaviours of a number of individuals were under review as part if its investigation.

Belfast Pride is to raise the language used in a meeting with senior PSNI officers later this week.

What is a hate crime?

There is no specific offence of hate crime.

When the police talk of hate crimes, they are referring to the motivation behind incidents.

In the majority of cases, the offence committed relates to violence against the person or criminal damage.

Crimes can fall within public order legislation.

Under the 1987 Public Order (NI) Order, it is an offence to stir up hatred using abusive language in public.

These kinds of cases are normally dealt with by magistrates' courts.

Offences can be punishable by up to six months' imprisonment or fines below £5,000.

Thousands of people took part in Belfast Pride, which is the main event in the city's LGBTQ+ calendar.

This year's theme was Stand by Your Trans.

More than 250 groups and agencies signed up to take part in the Belfast parade - up 25% from 2022, according to the organisers.

'Entirely unacceptable'

Belfast Pride co-chairperson John O'Doherty said the language used in the incident filmed on Saturday was "entirely unacceptable".

"We recognise and support everyone else's right to protest, including those who chose to protest against Belfast Pride and what we believe in," he said.

"However that protest comes with a responsibility and that responsibility is clearly marked down in law.

"Everyone should have to live within those expectations when it comes to public protesting."

Mr O'Doherty said he wanted clarity on when police decided to investigate the incident as a hate crime, given that officers were present when it happened.