Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Notes: Hate Crime in Northern Ireland Lecture

Lecturers:

Neal Jarman, Conflict Research

David Lennox, Community Safety Unit, Northern Ireland Office


Research crime statistics to be used for how police handle situations


Sectarianism

Official cease fire in 1995

Since shifted from extreme, military violence to debating and armed social street violence

Protestant and Catholic is a code, it is not a religious war, it is about nationalism

Originally the reverse ratio in the south if Ireland and unequal treatment of Protestants was an concern, but it has not been an issue.

More people are immigrating


Violence

People grown up in legacy of violence. Where it is what has been used, and been successful

Representative violence used - do not care about the effect on the individual, that person represents a group and the act instills freer on the group

Violence has been legitimized as effective way of doing things


Racism

Highest proportion of incidents in Europe

2006 - 2007 1,600 Sectarian incidents | 1,000 Racism incidents

Many more Protestants and Catholics in NI


Political Agenda

Role of political leaders and parties

Highlights racism more than sectarianism

Sectarianism needs to be higher on agenda


---------------------------------------------------------------


School enrolment is going down, but proportion of non-white are going up

Holy Cross Incident where school girls not allowed to go to school, racist mural

Survey, more people want to live in mixed communities than with own religion

However more feel uncomfortable with neighbor in minority ethnic group


Good Friday Agreement - 1998

Compromise and put 4 parties in power

Northern Ireland Act - Section 75: Needs to ensure every new policy that comes out of government doe not adversely affect any religions, minority, gender, etc. group


Government Initiative


Police

Lack of trust in police

50:50 recruitment now

Independent advisory groups

Fully integrated and revised with training on sectarianism, racism, and violence


PSNI

Domestic violence exceeds sectarian

No comments: