Race attack as hate crackdown launched

An eastern European man was injured in a racial attack on his Belfast home today, just as police launched a new drive against such crime.

The 51-year-old was treated in hospital for an arm injury after a gang burst into his home in the south of the city and set about him with a hammer.

The PSNI said it would not tolerate such race attacks, the latest in a growing wave, and appealed for the public to speak out against those responsible.

The attack came as the PSNI launched a new policy on race and hate crimes to coincide with International Day Against Racism.

A police spokeswoman said a gang of up to seven men armed with baseball bats smashed their way through the front door of the man’s home in the Donegall Road area.

Once inside, they smashed windows and attacked the occupant with a hammer.

The gang, who all had their faces covered with masks, were also believed to have been responsible for the smashing of windows in two houses in neighbouring streets.

Police said they believed there was a racial motive for the attacks and stressed they were determined to get those responsible for such crime before the courts.

Superintendent Ken Eccles said: “We will not tolerate crimes of this nature, but we need the help and support of the local community.

“They must come forward and demonstrate that they will not allow this to happen. We must work together to make south Belfast a multi-cultural society and safer place in which to live.”

Hate crime has recently been identified by Chief Constable Hugh Orde as one of the biggest challenges facing his force.

The new PSNI policy document identifies minimum standards for investigation of race-hate crime, as well as guidelines on supervision and support for victims.

It ensures that a case will be reviewed by a senior officer if no-one has been cautioned within 28 days of the offence being reported.

Latest figures show there were 763 racial incidents in the North between April last year and January, an increase of 73 on the previous year.