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11 May 2010

Sixteen years after the ceasefires, twelve years after the Good Friday Agreement and three years after devolution, sectarianism continues to have real consequences for all of us.

Today, the Community Relations Council is especially concerned by the latest PSNI crime statistics which show that in 2009-10 there was a 24.3 % increase in sectarian crimes in Northern Ireland. Alongside the 1264 sectarian offences, compared with 1017 offences the previous year, there were 1840 sectarian incidents, a 15.4% increase from the previous year. And in all probability, this is only the tip of an iceberg.

Duncan Morrow, CRC Chief Executive, said:

“The Community Relations Council welcomes the higher PSNI detection rate for sectarian crime, which at 16.9% is up by 1.6% on the previous year and yet we must also deplore the continuing evidence of sectarian violence and threat.

These figures should make it clear that we need a policy and resources to ensure that sectarianism plays no further part in our public life and starts to move our society away from sectarian attitudes and behaviour.  We need a new normality of sharing rather than of fear. Supporting community relations work is crucial and encouraging young people in particular to leave sectarianism and enmity behind must be an important part of this.

Building a shared and better future requires commitment and action from all of us.  Even in an age of cuts, this is an area requiring real investment if we are to save lives and resources in the future.” 

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Ray Mullan 028 9022 7500