IN June last year, 20 Roma families, including many small children, were forced to move out of the Village area of Belfast following an organised campaign of harassment against them.

GARDAÍ have been accused of racial discrimination following the release of EU research which found Sub-Saharan Africans are twice as likely to be subjected to police stops than other members of the public.

AS a result of the European Union’s minorities and discrimination survey published last month, the Garda Síochána has been accused of racial discrimination, because black Africans are twice as likely to subjected to Garda stops as other members of the public.

Gardaí tonight defended its rule banning Sikh officers from wearing a turban on duty, claiming the force was not racist but trying to be impartial while providing a state service.

SERVING gardaí are to undergo anti-racism training as part of the force’s new recruitment drive among ethnic minorities.

Kettles, fridges and microwaves have been confiscated from gardaí working on sentry duty at a high-profile station, it emerged today.

RACIST crimes have fallen, not risen, this year, Justice Minister Michael McDowell insisted yesterday.

CLOSE to 200 racially motivated incidents have been reported to the Gardaí over the last two years.