§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has received about the extent and trend of racial attacks in Northern Ireland; what action is being taken with regard to them; and if he will make a statement. [174188]
§ Mr. SpellarThe following table sets out the number of racial incidents reported to the police in Northern Ireland since 2001.
The Government have frequently put on record their abhorrence of all forms of intolerance and racism. They are committed to eradicating such manifestations of hatred, whether based on racism or on sectarianism and are developing a co-ordinated response to the problem in Northern Ireland.
I will shortly bring forward an Order in Council to enable courts to deal more severely with crimes motivated by racist, sectarian and homophobic hatred.
The proposals will require sentencers to treat racial and religious aggravation as aggravating factors, where proven, when sentencing and to extend this legislation to offences motivated by hatred of sexual orientation.
The proposals also increase maximum sentences available for certain specified, mainly violent, offences including where racial, religious or sexual aggravation is proven.
1344WThe Community Safety Unit (CSU) is leading the development of a Hate Crime recording and monitoring system for Northern Ireland. The minority ethnic communities are represented and fully participating on the Working Group. Integral to the development of the System will be the engagement with the various minority ethnic communities to establish protective and preventive security schemes, and the carrying out of research into racially motivated crime. The CSU has provided funding to a number of counter-racism/sectarian projects under the Challenge Competition— seven at a total cost of £384,000.
The final version of the Race Equality Strategy (which takes account of extensive consultation with all sections of NI society) will be published by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister this summer and specific actions will be included in a detailed implementation plan developed in line with the strategy.
These measures will send out a clear message that racism has no place in our society.
Number of racial incidents reported to the police in Northern Ireland 1998–2004 Total number of racial incidents 1998–99 93 1999–2000 237 2000–01 260 2001–02 185 2002–03 226 2003–04 453