Question
The Board has recently asked for a renewed focus on securing better criminal justice outcomes for hate crimes. In light of recent events, particularly in Antrim, can you provide an update on steps being taken to provide effective reassurance to both the Board and the wider community?
Answer
We recognise the significant impact that Hate Crime has, not just on the individuals targeted, but often on whole communities. Hate Crime remains a strategic priority for the service with an emphasis on race hate this year and dedicated strategic and operational leads providing a continued focus on providing the best possible service to victims and securing tangible criminal justice outcomes.
As a strategic priority the service lead Chief Superintendent Sue Steen is in the process of preparing a refreshed control strategy.
One of our chief concerns is that Hate Crimes continue to be under reported for various reasons. To encourage reporting and enhance trust and confidence in policing we proactively engage the full range of minority communities through-out the year at neighbourhood, district and strategic level.
At Strategic level Strategic Community Engagement Team (SCET) continue to host Reference, Engagement and Listening (REAL) events which target communities who are more likely to become victims of Hate Crime. These events provide a platform for communities to be heard and to ensure they have a mechanism to hold the Service to account and ensure we are providing a service that is procedurally fair. At the recent Ethnic Minority REAL event in March 2024, specific focus was given to how the PSNI was responding to escalation in anti-immigration sentiment which has been experienced across Northern Ireland.
As well as this ongoing engagement activity every October we launch a campaign for ‘Hate Crime Awareness Week’ in partnership with the Policing Board, Police and Community Safety Partnerships and the Hate Crime Advocacy Service. Last year’s campaign highlighted the devastating impact that hate crime has on victims and encouraged everyone, not just victims, to report hate crime when they see it. The campaign, which was launched on the first day of Hate Crime Awareness Week (HCAW) in October 2023, and has been rolled out a number of times since then, was developed to prompt the public to ‘put yourself in their shoes’ and think about how they would feel if they were on the receiving end of hate crime.
The nature and timing of hate incidents, in particular criminal damage, does often present limited if any investigative opportunities for police since perpetrators carryout their actions at night to avoid detection and witnesses. To maximise investigative opportunities and solvability hate crime incidents continue to receive a priority response and enhanced oversight by Sergeants and Inspectors and District Commanders through daily management meetings. Trends or crime series are identified through these daily management structures and analysis. They are often then subject to concerted problem solving by neighbourhood policing teams or given additional focus and priority through a Gold/Silver/Bronze structure. This ensures the wider implications of the harm these hate crime causes is understood and, where necessary, other partners can be brought in to reduce the harm to the community.
Even where offenders are detected Hate Crimes also continue to have a high percentage of victims who decline to pursue prosecution which ultimately limits the criminal justice outcome opportunities. Analysis (attached) conducted in 2022 highlighted that almost two thirds of the sample set reported to Police for information purposes only. The victims experience with the PSNI is obviously one factor which could potential impact on this decision. It is reassuring therefore that an external independent audit of the PSNI’s end to end process for Hate Crime conducted in 2022 and published in 2023 (attached) highlighted that “the standard of service offered by The Police Service of Northern Ireland was found to be generally of a high standard”. To ensure victims receive the best possible support the PSNI continue to invest significant funding in the Hate Crime Advocacy Service.
The Service is also committed to working with partner agencies to find solutions to preventing Hate Crime from occurring and it attends a bi-weekly Hate Crime Gold meeting with partners from across the United Kingdom. This provides the Service with the opportunity to identify best practice and, importantly, identify emerging trends early to enable it to protect vulnerable communities. In addition, the Service sits on a local quarterly Hate Crime Delivery Group, chaired by the Department of Justice which includes representation from a number of statutory partners.
Antrim Hate Crimes & Incidents
The attacks commenced on 17th May and a total 70 reports of hate crimes/incidents have been linked to racist sentiment in Antrim (there may be some duplication in reporting) largely involving posters, graffiti and criminal damage to properties, at least 1/3 of those have been in Ballycraigy Estate specifically. There have been no further incidents since 9th July but just prior to the 11th/12th celebrations, a total of 8 ethnic minority families moved out either temporarily or permanently. 4 families have mortgaged properties and intend to return and 4 were renting and will seek alternative accommodation.
These incidents attracted significant media attention and have understandably led to widespread condemnation.
The motivation for these incidents is expressly due to tensions around the allocation of housing in the area. Police believe that members of a known organised crime gang may be involved.
The community, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Police and Community Safety Partnership have assisted in the removal of offensive graffiti from dwellings including those that are privately owned.
A Gold Command structure has been established under Temporary Chief Superintendent Sue Steen.
Under the direction of Gold a full reactive investigative review has been conducted by detectives and specialist overt and covert policing resources from across the service have been tasked.
In addition an enhanced reassurance patrolling strategy has been implemented including additional resourcing and dedicated patrols of the area.
Through the group engagement with community representatives and elected members is being co-ordinated to monitor and manage community tensions in the area and a range of stakeholders have been engaged to provide support and reassurance to the families affected.
To date, two searches and one arrest have been made on suspicion of criminal damage and intimidation and remains on Police bail for investigative inquiries.
Les Allamby