Racist crime - Courts must issue stiffer penalties

THE inexorable rise in racist crime, especially physical assault, is an extremely worrying trend.

According to figures from the Racial and Intercultural Office, the gardaí dealt with 159 racial incidents in 2006, up 50% on the previous year.

This underlines the urgency of tougher action against mindless people who think their status is somehow enhanced by assaulting, or generally making life miserable for foreigners who now make up over 10% of the population.

As Professor Dermot Walsh of the Centre for Criminal Justice at the University of Limerick points out, a strong case exists for introducing aggravated sentencing in courts. This would enable judges to hand down stiffer penalties for crimes of a racist nature and bring Ireland into line with European law.

Provided there was consistency of sentencing, judges should be empowered to fit the sentence to the crime. This would be matched by a programme of education aimed at increasing tolerance and creating a more inclusive society.