By Lesley Walsh
HOLYWOOD needs more visible neighbourhood police officers on the ground, following the latest acts of race-related intimidation and graffiti in the town.
That was the call of local Alliance politicians following a meeting with PSNI chiefs last Wednesday in the wake of incidents being treated as race hate crimes by police.
North Down MLAs Connie Egan and Andrew Muir were joined at the meeting by councillors Martin McRandal and Gillian McCollum, who jointly stressed the need for everyone’s ‘right to feel safe’
Ms Egan, who is the Alliance spokeswoman on justice, she has made the case for visible neighbourhood policing through the Assembly’s Justice Committee.
“As local Alliance representatives, we welcomed the opportunity to raise our concerns directly with the PSNI about the racist intimidation and graffiti we have seen in Holywood over recent weeks,” she said.
She called on everyone to condemn last month’s incidents, which led to a Syrian family fleeing the town after two children were injured when masked youths attacked their home, and racial slurs including ‘blacks out’ were daubed on a footpath.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their local community, whether in North Down or anywhere across Northern Ireland, regardless of their race or ethnicity,” added Ms Egan.
“Racist graffiti and acts of intimidation have no place anywhere in our community and must be unequivocally condemned. I am particularly concerned about the impact these incidents could have on children and families, creating fear and uncertainty within neighbourhoods that should be welcoming places for everyone.
“Now more than ever, we need a robust and fully funded Racial Equality Strategy that builds trust, strengthens community cohesion and challenges prejudice,” she added.
Mr Muir, the Stormont Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs,said the delegation had a ‘frank and robust conversation’ with police about the challenges in North Down this summer, particularly in Holywood.
“The horrendous racially- motivated hate crimes and graffiti that have occurred are unacceptable and do not represent the vast majority of people in the town who are appalled at what has happened,” he said.
He added that concerns were also raised about the erection of flags ‘being used to intimidate, divide and mark territory’.
“People rightly expect them to come down and we will continue to urge the responsible authorities to act. I am extremely disappointed that the Department for Infrastructure refuses to intervene, despite repeated correspondence with the Minister, who has reiterated that her officials will not take the necessary action,” said Mr Muir.
