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RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
PSNI launches plan to build trust with ethnic minorities
The PSNI has launched a plan to build greater trust with black and ethnic minority communities in Northern Ireland. It comes against a backdrop of a rising number of racially motivated attacks and two summers of racist rioting as well as criticism of previous policing operations. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the plan was intended to "build trust, promote equality and improve engagement" with ethnic minority communities across Northern Ireland. Among the commitments in the plan is to make people from an ethnic minority background feel safe and valued. There is also a pledge that the PSNI will be an "anti-racist" service that values its own officers and staff from those communities. According to the latest PSNI statistics there were 1,188 racially motivated hate crimes in 2023/24, the highest number since records were first recorded twenty years ago. Mr Boutcher said recent events, locally and globally, had brought the challenges faced by Black and Ethnic Minority communities to the fore. "Public confidence in the police, especially among those communities has been impacted by historical injustices, disparities in policing outcomes and a perception of bias within our system. "It is our responsibility to not only recognise these concerns, but to actively address them." The PSNI has faced criticism in the past over how it has policed members of ethnic minority communities. In 2020, it was heavily criticised for how it handled peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in Belfast and Derry following the murder of George Floyd by a US police officer. An investigation found its approach had been unfair and discriminatory. In 2023, there was criticism of how it dealt with a series of racially motivated arson attacks on homes of members of ethnic minority communities. The plan launched today states that the PSNI will try to make its officers more representative of the community they police. Less than 1% of PSNI officers come from an ethnic minority background. Census figures show Northern Ireland has around 3.45% of people from an ethnic minority background. The biggest group is those of mixed ethnicity, followed by people from the Indian, Chinese and black African communities. The policing plan includes more training for officers, better recruitment, retention and promotion policies, improved public engagement, robust pursuit of hate crimes perpetrators and the setting of measurable targets. Takura Makoni of the African and Caribbean Support Organisation welcomed the new police plan and said all his community asked for was to be treated the same as everyone else. "We want to be able to pick up a phone, call the police and be responded to, treated with respect. When you are a victim, not to be treated like a suspect. "I think anybody on this island has the same expectations." Businessman Rhami Akyol whose Belfast café was attacked during racist rioting last summer said having failed to initially protect his premises, the PSNI had followed up regularly in an attempt to reassure him. Mr Akyol, who is of Kurdish origin and from Turkey, has lived in Northern Ireland for 30 years. He said he believed the growth of social media and a lack of police resources was a big part of the problem. "I don't believe they have enough police officers. For some incidents what happens is that when we call them, it takes them time to come. "So I believe first government has to sort out giving more jobs to police officers." The PSNI currently has around 6,300 officers, the lowest in its history, and Mr Boutcher has consistently complained of a budget shortfall that is impeding his ability to provide a proper policing service. The chief constable is recruiting 700 more officers, but that would still leave him below the 7,500 envisaged when the service replaced the former RUC. The Stormont Executive has yet to deliver on the promised cash to pay for that recruitment.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
融樂會解散｜創辦人王惠芬：自願清盤好過被人利用招搖撞騙 對謝永齡言論感震驚、遺憾｜Yahoo
【Yahoo 新聞報道】有 24 年歷史、關注香港少數族裔權益的香港融樂會宣布解散。融樂會主席莊明蓮昨日（28日）見記者，認為融樂會已經完成歷史使命，經慎重考慮後決定解散，強調解散決定與財政及政治無關。不過，解散後已被解僱的總幹事謝永齡昨在場外向記者稱，解散理由欠說服力及荒謬，認為少數族裔被歧視的情況仍然持續，批評解散決定不負責任。融樂會創辦人王惠芬在香港時間凌晨開腔回應，對於謝永齡的言論，「閱後我深感震驚、遺憾、不實」。王惠芬直言：「若然融樂會的初心與使命無法延續，我支持它『寧為玉碎，不作瓦全』，自願清盤總好過被人利用招搖撞騙。」 相關報道：融樂會宣布解散 主席莊明蓮稱「完成使命」 總幹事斥荒謬：唔做又唔想畀人做｜Yahoo 融樂會解散的消息最先在《明報》周二（25日）報道，根據報章內容，當時主席莊明蓮及部分執委未有回應，至於謝永齡則表示，如融樂會解散令人感可惜，憂香港少數族裔社群將失去重要發言人。至昨日，融樂會召開特別會員大會，會議中 17 名會員有 16 人投票贊成解散，另有 1 人投反對票，最終通過決定，並啟動清盤程序。 昨日會員大會後，謝永齡及項目主任木慧雅在場外見記者。謝形容，解散理據欠缺說服力，亦是十分荒謬，認為香港社會仍有少數族裔被歧視的情況，不認為該會的使命已經完成。他強調該會的清盤原因與財政及政治因素無關，但據他所得的消息指，是有人認為「我唔做，又唔想畀人做」，故有解散決定。他又形容，有人將融樂會視為私人機構，「話拉閘就拉閘」，未有考慮到清盤後的情況，決定亦欠缺透明。謝與木亦宣布籌辦另一個名為「香港多元動力」的慈善機構，希望繼續協助少數族裔，幫助他們享有更平等的待遇。 到了今日（3月1日）凌晨，王惠芬開腔回應，直接批評謝永齡。王表示，12 年前她選擇離開香港融樂會的管理崗位，秉持「不在其位，不問其事」的原則，把信任交予董事會與團隊，雖然她沒有參與融樂會的運作，卻依然關心香港的種族平等進程。 王指出，過去兩年有不少朋友、支持者及少數族裔市民向她表達對最後一任總幹事的不滿，「我選擇沉默，因為我相信機構的治理應由董事會負責」。近日當她得悉董事會決定自願清盤解散香港融樂會，形容內心百感交集，「這個決定絕不輕易，當中的困難與挑戰可想而知」，「然而，我完全支持並尊重董事會的決定，也衷心感謝過去 24 年來每一位董事會成員」。 王表示，創立融樂會的初心與目標清晰而堅定，就是政策倡議，包括推動立法禁止種族歧視、改變公立中小學的派位政策、爭取公立學校提供有系統及優質的中文教育予少數族裔學童、倡議大專院校與職業訓練機構接納少數族裔學生、推動公務員事務局檢視招聘政策，讓合資格的少數族裔獲得公平的就業機會，並且讓香港社會真正「看見」及認同少數族裔是這片土地的一部分。她認為，這些核心工作，在董事會的努力和領導下，已一一達成。然而，她強調種族平等的路仍然漫長，少數族裔社群仍面對諸多挑戰，需要更多人的參與和堅持。 王惠芬指，昨日收到記者傳來謝永齡的新聞稿，「閱後我深感震驚、遺憾、不實」，稱融樂會自願清盤是深思熟慮的決定，並說「在今日的香港，尋找一位既有心志又有能力的總幹事，帶領機構繼續倡議工作，並不容易」。 她強調：「融樂會當初創會的目的，並非作為直接服務提供者，因為這類服務已有不少獲政府資助的機構提供。若然融樂會的初心與使命無法延續，我支持它『寧為玉碎，不作瓦全』，自願清盤總好過被人利用招搖撞騙。為免讓別有用心之人乘機博取關注，我只重申絕對信任董事會的專業和誠信，希望公眾明辨是非，並祈求我所信仰的上主親自紀念與祝福所有董事會成員。」 【王惠芬回應全文】香港融樂會解散感言十二年前，我選擇離開香港融樂會的管理崗位，秉持「不在其位，不問其事」的原則，把信任交予董事會與團隊。自2013年底辭任總幹事一職，為編著《無酵餅——少數族裔學生中文教育初探》一書而留任至2014年6月中，此後我便不再過問會務，以示尊重。這些年來，我雖然沒有參與融樂會的運作，卻依然關心香港的種族平等進程。過去兩年，不少朋友、支持者及少數族裔市民向我表達對最後一任總幹事的不滿，我選擇沉默，因為我相信機構的治理應由董事會負責。近日，當我得悉董事會決定自願清盤解散香港融樂會，內心百感交集。這個決定絕不輕易，當中的困難與挑戰可想而知。然而，我完全支持並尊重董事會的決定，也衷心感謝過去二十四年來每一位董事會成員，他們每一位在其專業範疇內都是受人敬佩之士，從未謀求個人利益，在繁忙工作之餘，仍無私奉獻、默默耕耘，實在令人敬佩。創立融樂會的初心與目標清晰而堅定——就是政策倡議，包括推動立法禁止種族歧視、改變公立中小學的派位政策、爭取公立學校提供有系統及優質的中文教育予少數族裔學童、倡議大專院校與職業訓練機構接納少數族裔學生、推動公務員事務局檢視招聘政策，讓合資格的少數族裔獲得公平的就業機會，並且讓香港社會真正「看見」及認同少數族裔是這片土地的一部分。這些核心工作，在董事會的努力和領導下，已一一達成。然而，種族平等的路仍然漫長。融樂會的工作只是從「零」到「一」的基礎建設，少數族裔社群仍面對諸多挑戰，這需要更多人的參與和堅持。昨日，我收到記者朋友傳來謝永齡先生的新聞稿，閱後我深感震驚、遺憾、不實。香港融樂會自願清盤是深思熟慮的決定。在今日的香港，尋找一位既有心志又有能力的總幹事，帶領機構繼續倡議工作，並不容易。我們當初創會的目的，並非作為直接服務提供者，因為這類服務已有不少獲政府資助的機構提供。若然融樂會的初心與使命無法延續，我支持它「寧為玉碎，不作瓦全」，自願清盤總好過被人利用招搖撞騙。為免讓別有用心之人乘機博取關注，我只重申絕對信任董事會的專業和誠信，希望公眾明辨是非，並祈求我所信仰的上主親自紀念與祝福所有董事會成員。關於香港融樂會今次的決定，我只回應一次，不再多言，盼望體諒。備註：1. 融樂會主席在記者會上提到「光榮結束」，其意思是我們當初定立的使命和目標已初步達成，並非指香港已經不存在種族歧視的問題。2. 記者會上，董事會成員的笑容，來自於對過去二十四年努力促成政策改變的欣慰，而非對種族平等現狀感到滿意Statement on the Dissolution of Hong Kong UnisonTwelve years ago, I chose to step away from the management of Hong Kong Unison, upholding the principle of 'not interfering in matters beyond my position' and entrusting the organization's governance to the Board and the team. After resigning as Executive Director at the end of 2013, I remained until mid-June 2014 to complete the publication of 'Unleavened Bread – A Preliminary study on Ethnic Minority Students Learning Chinese'. Since then, I have refrained from intervening in the organization's affairs, out of respect for the I have not been involved in the operations of Hong Kong Unison over the years, I have always remained concerned about the progress of racial equality in Hong Kong. In the past two years, many friends, supporters, and members of the ethnic minority community have shared their dissatisfaction with the final Executive Director. I chose to remain silent because I believe that the governance of an organization should rest with the Board, rather than be swayed by individual I was informed of the Board's decision to voluntarily liquidate and dissolve Hong Kong Unison. This decision was not made lightly, and I fully understand the difficulties and challenges involved. Nevertheless, I fully support and respect the Board's decision and would like to express my sincere gratitude to every Board member over the past 24 years. Each of them is a respected professional in their own field who has selflessly dedicated their time and efforts to the organization without personal gain. Their contributions are truly founding vision and mission of Hong Kong Unison were clear and resolute—policy advocacy. This included pushing for legislation to prohibit racial discrimination, advocating for changes in public school admission policies, ensuring systematic and high-quality Chinese language education for ethnic minority students, promoting access to higher education and vocational training for ethnic minority youth, urging the Civil Service Bureau to review its recruitment policies to provide equal employment opportunities, and fostering a society where ethnic minorities are recognized as an integral part of Hong Kong. Thanks to the leadership and efforts of the Board, these objectives have largely been the road to racial equality remains long and challenging. The work of Hong Kong Unison has only laid the foundation—from 'zero' to 'one'—and ethnic minority communities still face many obstacles. Continued efforts from various sectors will be necessary to sustain this a journalist shared with me a press release by Mr. John Tse. After reading it, I was deeply shocked and disappointed by the falsehoods and misrepresentations it contained. The voluntary liquidation of Hong Kong Unison was a decision made after careful deliberation. In today's Hong Kong, finding an Executive Director who possesses both the passion and ability to lead the organization's advocacy work is increasingly difficult. Our founding mission was never to provide direct services, as there are already many government-funded organizations fulfilling that role. If the original mission and vision of Hong Kong Unison can no longer be upheld, I would rather see it 'break as jade than remain intact as tile'—choosing voluntary liquidation over being exploited by opportunists for personal or political avoid giving undue attention to those with ulterior motives, I will not engage in a point-by-point rebuttal. However, I stand by my absolute trust in the professionalism and integrity of the Board, and I hope the public can discern the truth. I also pray that my faith in the Almighty will bring blessings and remembrance to all Board members for their selfless will be my only statement on this matter, and I will not be making further comments. I appreciate your When the Chairperson of Hong Kong Unison described the dissolution as a 'glorious conclusion' during the press conference, the meaning was that the organization had largely fulfilled its original mission and objectives. This does not imply that racial discrimination has been eradicated in Hong Kong.2. The smiles of Board members at the press conference reflected their satisfaction with the policy changes achieved through 24 years of effort, rather than any belief that racial equality has been fully realized.
