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Racist hate crime: Police launch dedicated phone line to report incidents | Racist hate crime: Police launch dedicated phone line to report incidents |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is to introduce a new dedicated phone line for reporting racist hate crime. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland is to introduce a new dedicated phone line for reporting racist hate crime. |
Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said the service would be accessed through their 101 number. | Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said the service would be accessed through their 101 number. |
He said hoped it would encourage people to pass on more information and help police to deal with the recent upsurge in racist attacks. | He said hoped it would encourage people to pass on more information and help police to deal with the recent upsurge in racist attacks. |
Earlier this month, police said they were increasing patrols in areas where hate attacks had taken place. | Earlier this month, police said they were increasing patrols in areas where hate attacks had taken place. |
On Saturday, graffiti was sprayed on two houses in south Belfast, which police said they were treating as a hate crime. | On Saturday, graffiti was sprayed on two houses in south Belfast, which police said they were treating as a hate crime. |
The home of a Jamaican woman and her family was targeted in what was believed to have been a racist attack in the early hours of Friday morning. | The home of a Jamaican woman and her family was targeted in what was believed to have been a racist attack in the early hours of Friday morning. |
Earlier this month, Mr Kerr met Belfast city councillors and community representatives to discuss the recent spate of hate crime incidents. | Earlier this month, Mr Kerr met Belfast city councillors and community representatives to discuss the recent spate of hate crime incidents. |
Police said in south and east Belfast, the UVF had been orchestrating the attacks. | Police said in south and east Belfast, the UVF had been orchestrating the attacks. |
A dedicated team of detectives had been set up to tackle the problem. | A dedicated team of detectives had been set up to tackle the problem. |
A PSNI spokesman said 64 arrests had been made since January in connection with hate crime incidents. | A PSNI spokesman said 64 arrests had been made since January in connection with hate crime incidents. |
Justice Minister David Ford welcomed the announcement by the PSNI. | |
Speaking during question time at the assembly he said: "I have given a commitment, through the community safety strategy, that the criminal justice system will tackle hate crime and the harm it causes." |