Written answers

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Operations

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána collects and collates data on hate crimes and-or racially motivated crimes. [31186/18]

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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274. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only 30% of those reporting racist crimes to an organisation (details supplied) also reported them to An Garda Síochána; and the steps he is taking to ensure that barriers to the reporting of racist incidents to An Garda Síochána by ethnic minorities here are removed. [31450/18]

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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275. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that are being taken to ensure that gardaí record racist motivations for crime on PULSE in line with a definition (details supplied) of same rather than requiring independent evidence of racist motivation before recording a racist incident as such. [31451/18]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 274 and 275 together.

I can advise the Deputy that all members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing all legislation relating to criminal matters, including the relevant provisions relating to racist behaviour. On receipt of any complaint, the matter is the subject of a full investigation by An Garda Síochána and, on completion of such investigation, an Investigation File is submitted to the DPP who, on being satisfied that there is sufficient evidence available to warrant a prosecution, will direct what charges, if any, are to be brought forward.

In 2014, the independent Garda Inspectorate published a wide-ranging Report on Crime Investigation. This included a number of recommendations to help improve the way racist crime is recorded and to support victims of such crimes. The Inspectorate recommended, inter-alia, that An Garda Síochána implemented a victim-centered policy and good investigative practices in racial, homophobic and other similar crimes to encourage victims to report offences.

To achieve the above recommendation, the following key actions were to be taken:

- Ensure that all crimes containing elements of hate or discrimination are flagged on PULSE;

- Create clear modus operandi features on PULSE that allow the accurate recording of the nine strands of the Diversity Strategy;

- Develop third party reporting sites to accommodate victim reporting; and

- Review the decision to merge the role of ELO/LGBT officers.

Several steps have been taken to address these recommendations:

Improvements were made to the PULSE system in 2015 which will help in addressing the recommendations. PULSE 6.8 was released in November 2015 and, among the enhancements included in this release, was the introduction of a Victim Assessment Screen. This requires the mandatory recording of data relating to the apparent motive for a crime incident, such as whether it has been motivated by discrimination on specific grounds including age, disability, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. In addition, the Policing Plan 2018 provides commitments that An Garda Síochána will produce a definition of, and procedures to record, hate crime.

Improvements to the PULSE system also enable the recording of all interactions with victims and facilitate the communication of information to victims on all aspects of the investigative process. These improvements will facilitate the issuing of correspondence to victims in accordance with the E.U. Directive on Victims of Crime.

I can advise the Deputy that important steps already taken include the establishment on 16 March 2015 of Garda Victim Service Offices in each Garda Division. These Offices aim to enhance the Garda service being provided to victims of crime and traumatic events by placing victims at the centre of the Garda service and providing a respectful, reassuring, responsive and reliable service addressing the needs and expectations of all victims who require an individual response.

Other developments following on the Inspectorate’s Report include the establishment of a Data Quality Team within An Garda Síochána and the development of a new Incident Recording Process to enhance overall data quality.

The Garda Racial Intercultural and Diversity Office (GRIDO) has responsibility for coordinating, monitoring and advising on all aspects of policing Ireland's diverse communities. GRIDO monitors the reporting and recording of hate and racist crime on a continual basis. These officers, together with the Garda Racial Intercultural and Diversity Office, play a fundamental role in liaising with minority groups and work in partnership to encourage tolerance, respect and understanding within communities and to help prevent hate and racist crime. The Garda Racial Intercultural and Diversity Office and Ethnic Liaison Officers provide advice and assistance to victims of hate or racist crime where required or deemed necessary.

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