Tackling hate crime ‘key priority’ for Mid and East Antrim policing partners

Ballymena District Electoral Area has the fifth highest incidence of hate crime in Northern Ireland, according to  a Mid and East Antrim Council report.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Mar 2020, 15:38 BST

PSNI statistics presented to the council’s Direct Services Committee, at a meeting in Carrickfergus on Tuesday evening, showed these were mostly motivated by race.

The crimes were reported during 2018/19.

A total of 159 hate crimes and incidents were recorded by police in the Ballymena area during the period.  Of these, 126 had racist motivation. There were 30 with a sectarian motive and three, homophobic.

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Tackling hate crime is a key priority highlighted by Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership in 2020/21.

Overall, 187 hate crimes in Mid and East Antrim were race-related, 86 had a sectarian motivation and 16, homophobic.

In the Braid, the hate crime total was 16, with four sectarian crimes and incidents and two homophobic incidents and crimes. Ten were race-related.

In Bannside, the hate crime total was eight. There were six sectarian crimes and incidents reported and two had a racist motive.

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In Carrickfergus Castle district, there was a total of 17 hate crimes and incidents. Six crimes and incidents were sectarian and seven had homophobic motivation. Four were racist.

The Knockagh area, which covers Greenisland, had 27 hate crimes and incidents.

Twenty-two had racist motivation, four were sectarian and one was homophobic.

In the Larne Lough area, there were 33 hate crimes and incidents. Of these,  21 were sectarian and 12 were racist.

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In the Coast Road area of Larne which extends to Carnlough,   29 hate crimes and incidents were recorded. Fifteen were sectarian, 11 were racist and three were homophobic.

In a preliminary response to the Review of Hate Crime Legislation, the local authority said: “The council accepts that hate crime laws are important as that sends a message to offenders  that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated by a society that values equality and contribution made by every individual within its community.”

The review is open for public consultation until March 31.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.