Northern Ireland pledges to tackle anti-Polish hate crimes
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
03.06.2015 14:38
Authorities in Northern Ireland have pledged to stem racially motivated crimes following a spate of incidents involving Poles.
Belfast City Hall. Photo: wikimedia commons/mkooiman
Ambassador to the UK Witold Sobków completed a two-day visit to Northern Ireland on Tuesday, meeting both politicians and police officers.
“I reassured him that we are committed and determined to do all we can to tackle hate crime,” said Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin, who met Sobków on Tuesday.
“I briefed him on the various strands of work we are engaged in to try and put a stop to the unacceptable behaviour being carried out by a small number of intolerant people,” Martin added.
On Monday, Sobków co-launched a short film aimed at raising awareness of the contribution of immigrants, together with Lord Mayor of Belfast Arder Carson.
Witold Sobków also talked with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and junior minister Michelle McIlveen.
Hate crimes against Poles have been occurring sporadically in the region for some time but police acknowledge that the level has risen dramatically this year.
Ambassador Sobków has said that not only is the situation detrimental to the Polish community, “but it is also bad for Northern Ireland because it creates the wrong image of the community that is, in general, hospitable.” (nh)
Source: belfastlive.co.uk, BBC