Area Commander makes new appeal on hate crimes

Area Commander Nicky Thompson made a new appeal for information on a spate of hate crimes in the Coleraine area at a meeting of Coleraine’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership last Monday night.

Following a question from PCSP member Adrian McQuillan, the Area Commander told the meeting that there had been a total of 17 hate crimes since June.

Chief Inspector Nicky Thompson, of Coleraine PSNI.PICTURE MARK JAMIESON.

placeholder image — Chief Inspector Nicky Thompson, of Coleraine PSNI.PICTURE MARK JAMIESON.

Councillor McQuillan told the meeting: “the local community knows who is carrying out these crimes.”

Responding to councillor McQuillan, the Area Commander said: “I want to reassure people that investigations are ongoing, we have increased patrols and we are using intelligence were possible. I would appeal to members of the public to come forward if they see anything suspicious,” said Chief Inspector Thompson.

PCSP member, councillor William McCandless described the recent hate crimes as ‘worrying’. “I urge you to find out who the perpetrators are,” said the UUP man.

Concluding Ch Insp Thompson urged anyone with information on the crimes to come forward.