CSO figures show fall in race crimes, but rise in anti-semitism

THE number of anti-semitic incidents has increased but the overall number of race crimes has fallen.

Information provided by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that last year there were 122 racist incidents, including harassment, minor assaults and public order offences.

That figure represents a drop for the fourth consecutive year, but there has also been a rise in offences aimed at members of the Jewish community while the Immigrant Council of Ireland said it believed race crime was actually on the rise.

Last year 13 incidents were categorised as anti-semitic — up from five the previous year and the highest such figure for half a decade.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland said that, contrary to the impression given by the figures, its experience through working with immigrants was that the rate of race crime was increasing.

Chief executive Denise Charlton said the council is currently finalising a research report into racism that contradicted the official statistics.

“Information given to us from migrants and people from minority ethnic groups is that racist incidents have increased since the economic crisis,” she said.

“People are experiencing racism — violence, harassment and antisocial behaviour — in their communities and in the workplace. One of the difficulties with the official statistics is that people are often reluctant, for a range of reasons, to report racist incidents.

“We are working with the gardaí, employers and migrants to help address under-reporting of racist crimes and harassment.

“Collection of accurate data is crucial if we are to put in place effective programmes and responses to address racism in Ireland.”

Of the overall number of 122 racially motivated incidents collated by the CSO, 36 were minor assaults. Another 26 were public order offences while 22 incidents were criminal damage which did not include arson. There were 7 cases of assault causing harm and seven cases of harassment.

The nature of these incidents has also fluctuated over the past five years. The figures show that in 2008, for example, there were five cases of menacing phone calls, but this type of crime is absent every other year from 2006 onwards.

Minor assaults and public order offences have regularly accounted for the majority of racially motived incidents in the past five years, although there have been a number of incitement to hatred offences.

The CSO said the figures are provisional and subject to change.