13/02/2006
Police launch campaign to tackle hate crime
The PSNI are today staging a major conference on human rights and hate crime in Belfast.
Over 200 delegates are expected to attend the conference, which will address the issue of racism, homophobia, sectarianism, faith/religion crimes, and crimes against people with disabilities.
The conference is set to coincide with a poster campaign aimed to raise awareness of the increasing hate crime, with the simple message 'Hate Crime is Wrong.'
The campaign has been designed to make people in the community think about the issue, and to give advice to potential victims.
It also promotes the new online facility to enable such crimes to be reported through the Internet, at www.psni.police.uk.
Police figures have revealed that there were 697 racial incidents between April and December 2005 compared to the 624 in the same period in the previous year.
The number of homophobic incidents had also increased, as had religion/faith crime, disability attacks and those of a sectarian nature.
Opening the seminar in Belfast today, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said that the problem of hate crime was rapidly increasing in Northern Ireland. He said: “The biggest challenge facing the Police Service is increasing the number of persons detected and prosecuted for hate crimes. I recently approved, along with my senior command, the implementation of a new Hate Incident policy, which I believe will deliver a more consistent and effective police response to hate incidents.
“The ‘Hate Crime’ legislation recently introduced to Northern Ireland, I believe, creates an opportunity for the courts to send out a very clear message that hate related crimes will not be tolerated. The challenge for the Police Service is to ensure that those responsible are identified and held to account. Whilst the detection rates very slowly continue to rise, we recognise that this is an important confidence issue for minority groups."
The Chief Constable added that the increasing diversity in the province should be considered a strength and not a weakness and should be celebrated, not feared.
He concluded by saying that the PSNI will do everything it can to ensure that "individuals from all backgrounds can live free from prejudice, fear and discrimination.”
(EF/SP)
Over 200 delegates are expected to attend the conference, which will address the issue of racism, homophobia, sectarianism, faith/religion crimes, and crimes against people with disabilities.
The conference is set to coincide with a poster campaign aimed to raise awareness of the increasing hate crime, with the simple message 'Hate Crime is Wrong.'
The campaign has been designed to make people in the community think about the issue, and to give advice to potential victims.
It also promotes the new online facility to enable such crimes to be reported through the Internet, at www.psni.police.uk.
Police figures have revealed that there were 697 racial incidents between April and December 2005 compared to the 624 in the same period in the previous year.
The number of homophobic incidents had also increased, as had religion/faith crime, disability attacks and those of a sectarian nature.
Opening the seminar in Belfast today, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said that the problem of hate crime was rapidly increasing in Northern Ireland. He said: “The biggest challenge facing the Police Service is increasing the number of persons detected and prosecuted for hate crimes. I recently approved, along with my senior command, the implementation of a new Hate Incident policy, which I believe will deliver a more consistent and effective police response to hate incidents.
“The ‘Hate Crime’ legislation recently introduced to Northern Ireland, I believe, creates an opportunity for the courts to send out a very clear message that hate related crimes will not be tolerated. The challenge for the Police Service is to ensure that those responsible are identified and held to account. Whilst the detection rates very slowly continue to rise, we recognise that this is an important confidence issue for minority groups."
The Chief Constable added that the increasing diversity in the province should be considered a strength and not a weakness and should be celebrated, not feared.
He concluded by saying that the PSNI will do everything it can to ensure that "individuals from all backgrounds can live free from prejudice, fear and discrimination.”
(EF/SP)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 February 2020
Justice Minister Encourages Reports Of Online Hate Crime
Justice Minister Naomi Long is urging victims of online hate crimes to file a report to police to allow them to get the support they need. Ms Long encouraged members of the public to "call it out" and help police catch online perpetrators at an Online Hate Crime Event at Belfast City Hall.
Justice Minister Encourages Reports Of Online Hate Crime
Justice Minister Naomi Long is urging victims of online hate crimes to file a report to police to allow them to get the support they need. Ms Long encouraged members of the public to "call it out" and help police catch online perpetrators at an Online Hate Crime Event at Belfast City Hall.
07 June 2022
SF Calls For Hate Crime Laws To Be Strengthened
Laws to tackle hate crimes and sectarianism must be strengthened, Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill has said. O'Neill said: "There can be no place for sectarianism, racism, misogyny or discrimination in our society.
SF Calls For Hate Crime Laws To Be Strengthened
Laws to tackle hate crimes and sectarianism must be strengthened, Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O'Neill has said. O'Neill said: "There can be no place for sectarianism, racism, misogyny or discrimination in our society.
06 May 2014
Polish Residents Attacked In Latest Hate Crime
Two Polish residents of east Belfast have become the latest victims of a spate of racist hate crimes in the city, after the living room window of their house on Templemore Avenue was smashed at 23:30 on Monday night. A man in his 20s and a woman in her 40s were in the house at the time.
Polish Residents Attacked In Latest Hate Crime
Two Polish residents of east Belfast have become the latest victims of a spate of racist hate crimes in the city, after the living room window of their house on Templemore Avenue was smashed at 23:30 on Monday night. A man in his 20s and a woman in her 40s were in the house at the time.
13 February 2020
Online Hate Crime To Be Debated At City Hall
Leading professionals are to address the issue of online hate crime at a conference at Belfast City Hall this month. Representatives from the PSNI and the Belfast Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) will engage in an interactive question and answering session at the No Place for Hate conference.
Online Hate Crime To Be Debated At City Hall
Leading professionals are to address the issue of online hate crime at a conference at Belfast City Hall this month. Representatives from the PSNI and the Belfast Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) will engage in an interactive question and answering session at the No Place for Hate conference.
19 October 2023
PSNI Hosts Hate Crime Awareness Event In Moira
The PSNI have partnered with Lisburn and Castlereagh Policing Community Safety Partnership for a public meeting on Hate Crime Awareness public meeting in Moira.
PSNI Hosts Hate Crime Awareness Event In Moira
The PSNI have partnered with Lisburn and Castlereagh Policing Community Safety Partnership for a public meeting on Hate Crime Awareness public meeting in Moira.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.