AQW 4393/16-21

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 30/09/2016
Answered On Date: 18/10/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister what action has been taken to address a potential rise in racist harassment following the European Union referendum result.

Answer:

Immediately after the referendum result, we issued a joint statement to provide assurance to our migrant and minority ethnic communities. We remain committed to the vision expressed in the Racial Equality Strategy of a society which is strengthened by its ethnic diversity, free from racism, and where we can share a common sense of belonging. This vision is unaffected by the result of the referendum.

The Racial Equality Strategy contains the commitment that we will work with the Department of Justice to develop our approach to tackling race hate crime and we are working to progress the implementation of this Strategy. It is our view that there is absolutely no place for racism or intolerance of any kind in our society.

Recent statistics from the PSNI have shown a reduction in reports of both racist incidents and racist crime. We remain committed to zero tolerance on hate crime and the attitudes that allow it to happen.

We unequivocally condemn all racist attacks and strongly encourage all victims to report any racist incident, however minor. While there may be a level of uncertainty following the referendum result, there remains no excuse for racism in any of its manifestations.