DERRY, May 24  –  Figures released this week by the Police Service of northern Ireland (PSNI) reveal a massive 176% increase in homophobic incidents across the North.  The biggest marked increase is seen in the Derry City Council area with a 300% plus increase in reported incidents.

“While one major factor has been the improvement in the frequency of reporting in this area; the figures must also represent a real increase in actual incidents,” commented David McCartney, the development co-ordinator of the Rainbow Project.

“Attacks on vulnerable groups are on the increase, race hate crimes are rising as are the number of attacks on older people.  Attacks on the gay community in this area have increased we believe, we do not accept that this scale of an increase can be attributed simply to better reporting,” he added.

The official Police figures also reveal a 25.1% “clear up rate”, which by implication means that the system fails 75% of those reporting homophobic crime.

“This 75% failure rate is indicative of a criminal justice system that is clearly failing a substantial minority within our society,” McCartney pointed out.  “It is also important to note that “clear up rates” do not represent successful prosecutions.

“Given that the overwhelming majority of the crimes we are talking about have involved violence, this failure rate is wholly unacceptable.  A serious and fundamental governmental re-think must take place now as a matter of urgency.”

Recently, a cross-party committee of Westminster MP’s warned that if action on homophobic and other hate crimes is not taken that “hate crime may spiral out of control with extremely serious consequences”. (Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report Volume 1 - main report - and Volume 2 - oral and written evidence).

This report is justifiably critical of all the agencies involved in the administration of Government and Justice in Northern Ireland including the Northern Ireland Office, the OFMDFM [Office of the First and Deputy First Minister], as well as local government.

The consensus within the gay community is that we are still treated as outsiders and for the most part, no-one in authority is really concerned about the impact of ignorance and prejudice on this minority,” McCartney said.

“In the North West, The Rainbow Project is the only gay group in the locality.  We essentially provide services; we are not gay rights activists.”

As reported on UK Gay News two weeks ago (Students Raise Cash For Derry Rainbow Project – May 13), The Rainbow Project is struggling to survive in the face of severe cuts to its funding against an ever increasing demand on those services.  

“How can we be expected to solve a social problem of this scale that is steeped in religiously generated hatred and societal taboos,” McCartney asked?  “We have neither the time nor resources to do more than scratch the surface.

“The immediate needs of our clients are foremost in our priorities.  Given the limitations on our resources their needs take precedence over attending the numerous community forums we are invited to attend.

“Unfortunately, this essentially ham-strings any possibility to engage with the wider community and develop new ways to address this dreadful situation.  Along with a fundamental review, proper investment and appropriate levels of resourcing is vital if this situation is ever to change and real movement ever to be witnessed,” he said.

Judith Gillespie, the assistant chief constable Police Service of Northern Ireland said the figures for racial and homophobic "hate" crime are unacceptable.

“Whilst we welcome the fact that vulnerable communities are reporting these incidents more, the fact that they are happening at all is unacceptable in any society and it is one area that we will be increasingly focussing attention on," she told the Press Association this morning.

“A considerable amount of effort has gone into reaching out to minority groups and the increase in the number of incidents reported is at least a reflection of the growing confidence those communities have in reporting such incidents to police. But we can still do more," she admitted.

LINKS

The Rainbow Project website

Statement of Michael Mates, MP, the chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on publication of the committee's report last month.

Police Service of Northern Ireland website
Statistical Report April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2005 Police Service of Northern Ireland
 

24  May  2005