Crime Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2019

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Ceisteanna (432)

Noel Rock

Ceist:

432. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the assaults on non-nationals in Dublin; if An Garda Síochána traces the number of assaults on non-nationals; if so, the number of such assaults in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12797/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have requested the information from the Garda authorities in relation to assaults on non-nationals and I will contact the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 26 March 2019 where the Deputy sought information about the number of assaults on non-nationals in Dublin over the past five years.

As the Deputy will recall, I undertook to contact him again once the information from An Garda Síochána was to hand.

I am now advised by the Garda authorities that the attached table sets out the number of assaults recorded in the Dublin Region.

However, it is worth noting, affecting the accuracy of these figures are the number of incidents when the Injured Party’s (IP) details were not recorded as it is not mandatory to record a person’s nationality on the PULSE system.

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
0321 - Assaults causing harm	999	1070	1269	1326	1328	1589	311
Non-Irish National IP	208	228	251	304	294	380	66
Blank/Unknown/Other	26	21	29	29	40	36	8
0324 - Minor assault	2738	3008	3444	3669	3997	4284	869
Non-Irish National IP	494	599	721	831	946	1065	207
Blank/Unknown/Other	159	163	158	212	213	198	42

- A non-Irish national IP is determined by having a recorded nationality other than Irish, Other or Unknown.

- The nationality of ‘other’ may be recorded when the actual nationality is not available as a default option on PULSE.

In relation to An Garda Síochána’s plans to tackle hate crime, I can inform you that Commissioner Harris will soon finalise and publish the Garda Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021. Among many other valuable initiatives included in the strategy, An Garda Síochána have developed a new definition of Hate Crime. This definition will be disseminated across the force and will allow for the more effective monitoring of incidents of hate crime and will, eventually, allow for the collection of invaluable data regarding the prevalence of hate crime in Ireland.

The Strategy, which was developed following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, also includes targets for improved recording of Hate Crimes on Pulse system.

In addition to the new definition of “hate crime”, An Garda Síochána are planning a number of associated reforms to make the reporting of a hate crime easier for victims. They will develop a tool for the on-line reporting of hate crime incidents and there will be enhanced Diversity training provided to some Gardaí to foster trust and develop closer links across a range of diverse communities.

Once the Diversity & Inclusion Strategy is published, An Garda Síochána will also run an information campaign, encouraging any victim of hate crime to come forward and report that incident to their local Garda Station.

I hope this information is of assistance.