Mayor meets PSNI and provide reassurance to migrant communities

Mayor meets PSNI and provide reassurance to migrant communities

7 August 2024

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr says she has received assurances from PSNI Derry City & Strabane Area Commander Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney that police are working to protect migrant communities across the City and District.

Earlier today, the Mayor met with Chief Superintendent Kearney in response to recent acts of racist violence in Belfast, and social media posts circulating locally calling for an anti-immigration protest in Derry later this week.

Mayor Barr said that while there have been no reported incidents in Derry and Strabane to date, there is genuine fear amongst the local migrant community that the incidents of intimidation and fear could spread. She urged the PSNI and relevant statutory agencies to put adequate measures in place that will protect communities and provide reassurances around the safety of the public.

She said: "It is important that the escalating pattern of intimidation and fear is nipped in the bud at an early stage and that the PSNI enforce the law against those involved in any incidents of racist intimidation. At the meeting today I expressed concern about a social media post calling for people to attend a protest later this week and sought reassurances from the PSNI that they will be taking the appropriate measures to protect all communities. The PSNI assured me that they will monitor the situation and have the resources in place to deal with any incidents and that they will be proactively engaging with all groups likely to be affected by any such protest."

Mayor Barr added: "It is a very difficult time for migrant communities across the North, there is no justification for racism or for the violence and intimidation that occurred in Belfast over the past week but I am confident that Derry, the social justice capital of the world, can be a beacon of hope by showing strong collective opposition to this type of behaviour and to show its support for our local migrant community."

Mayor Barr said it is important to provide reassurance to the public about their safety adding that the majority of people are vastly supportive of diversity. She said it is the job of the PSNI to protect the public and encouraged everyone to report any incidents of hate crime.

She added: "It is up to all of us to work together - Government, statutory agencies and the community and voluntary sector - to demand a zero-tolerance approach to racism and violence. We need to dispel the myths and misinformation that exists out there around immigration and work together to highlight the positivity's around diversity as part of a collaborative approach to deliver a shared, peaceful and inclusive society."

Mayor Barr is one of several speakers who will attend a Unity Against Division - Community Rally for Solidarity taking place tonight, Wednesday, 07 August, at 6pm, at Guildhall Square.