Latest news with #RoisinBrown
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Minority ethnic community afraid following anti-social behaviour, police say
Minority ethnic communities have been left feeling afraid following anti-social behaviour in south Belfast, police have said. Police said young people have been gathering on Donegall Pass throwing items at members of the public. Advertisement Neighbourhood Inspector Roisin Brown said a number of the minority ethnic community have been targeted. 'Over the last 48 hours police have received multiple reports of young people gathering on Donegall Pass and throwing items including bottles, cans and water balloons at members of the public,' she said. 'A number of our minority ethnic community have been targeted and have been left feeling afraid and unwelcome in the area. 'Among a number of reports, one man was knocked off his scooter, whilst a vulnerable young woman was targeted by anti-social behaviour causing her to extreme distress. Advertisement 'Along with this we are also receiving reports of elderly people being in fear.' Ms Brown urged parents and guardians to know where their children are. 'I am appealing directly to parents and guardians to know where your children are and what they are doing. 'This guidance could well be the thing that prevents them from ending up with a criminal record,' she said. Advertisement 'I am also appealing to these young people themselves, this may seem like harmless fun, however we are actively investigating reports of assaults and public order offences. 'We do not wish to criminalise young people, but this must always be balanced against our duty to keep the public safe and to investigate offences reported to us. 'I would ask that you all support us to put an end this behaviour.'
Irish Post
5 days ago
- Irish Post
Belfast councillor condemns series of ‘mindless' attacks on 5G masts
A BELFAST councillor has blasted those responsible for a recent spate of attacks on 5G masts in the city. Multiple masts have been targeted recently the PSNI have confirmed, with the latest incident happening last night. Police were called to reports of a mast being set alight in the Annadale Embankment area of south Belfast yesterday evening (August 13). "Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, following a report that a 5G mast was alight, shortly after 10.15pm,' PSNI Inspector Roisin Brown said today. "This is just one of a number of 5G masts that have been set on fire recently and I cannot emphasise enough the dangers of lighting fire to electrical equipment,' she added. 'This is extremely reckless, and those responsible are putting themselves and members of the public at serious risk.' South Belfast SDLP councillor Gary McKeown has condemned the attack. 'This mindless attack on an essential piece of infrastructure will impact on people's daily lives right across the area,' he said. 'The mobile signal is bad enough in Belfast without ridiculous acts like this adding to it,' he added. "We all rely on our mobile phones as part of our daily lives, but some members of our community are particularly dependent on them, whether it's older people living alone, carers, or people running community organisations or small businesses. 'This is who will be hit the hardest by this misguided vandalism. "We've already seen a spate of similar attacks in west Belfast. The last thing anyone wants to see is it spreading to other parts of the city. This has to stop." The PSNI has urged anyone who witnessed last night's incident to contact them. 'We are treating this as arson and would ask that anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact us on 101 quoting reference 1956 of 13/08/25,' they said. See More: 5G, Arson, Belfast, Mast
The Independent
19-06-2025
- The Independent
Officer recalls being rendered unconscious as she restrained man in west Belfast
A police officer has recalled being punched so hard to the head that she lost consciousness at an event in west Belfast. Inspector Roisin Brown said the incident left her with post-concussion syndrome and unable to return to work for three weeks, as well as initial nervousness about dealing with the public for a time after that. Sergeant Mark Young also recalled a serious assault he suffered, and said it has become a 'normal part of society in Northern Ireland', adding that he would like to see tougher sentencing for all attacks on police. Ms Brown said every police officer experiences being assaulted. 'Every single day I come into work and I review the previous 24 hours activities, and someone has been assaulted,' she said. ' One of my neighbourhood officers broke his foot four weeks ago at an interface, trying to arrest somebody. 'I actually think assaults are becoming more serious and injuries are becoming more serious, broken bones, people losing consciousness, and then you have the everyday run-of-the-mill assaults that no one really talks about.' Ms Brown said any police officer, particularly one in uniform, will regularly come across incidents where they are likely to be assaulted or hurt on duty, from attending a traffic incident, to a domestic, to having to restrain or arrest someone who is violent. 'I know that in my personal experience, I've had multiple low-level assaults that are just never reported, and it just comes with the job until something really serious happens, which happened last year to me,' she said. She said she had been the supervisor at a large event in west Belfast last August when a young man was evicted from the event, and was trying to fight with members of the public. 'So I jumped in to restrain him, and he turned round in a split second and hit me very hard to the side of my head and knocked me out for a short period of time,' she said. 'Then I had to terminate duty and go to hospital, and get X-rayed and treated. 'Everyone knows that the police go into difficult situations all the time but I think something that serious was quite shocking for me and really disappointing where I was working at a concert and trying to keep people safe.' She said when she returned to work after three weeks, she felt nervous around people for a few weeks. 'I made a point of going out immediately but I sensed a nervousness within myself, I would have been very conscious of looking where people's hands were or what their body movements were, their demeanour, making sure I had a big interval gap between me and any members of the public, but that had gone away and I am fine now,' she said. Mr Young, who is based in Fermanagh, recalled entering a cell out of concern for a man who was trying to self harm, and coming under attack with multiple blows to the head which left him with 'no clue where I was'. The person responsible received a community service order. 'Myself and a female civilian detention officer went to try and assist him, he turned on a sixpence, became very violent, exceptionally aggressive and punched violently 14-15 times to the head, kneed twice to the side of the head, which whilst it didn't render me unconscious thankfully, I had no clue where I was, and he calmly walked out of the cell and slammed the door shut with me still inside,' he said. 'I was left with a black eye and bruising to the top, back and side of my head which was the physical aspect of it. 'The mental aspect of it was that it happened on Mothering Sunday, I had to go home to my wife and two young children, and they weren't expecting to see me like that. The mental scarring that they have also has an impact on them. 'I would like to see greater sentencing for assaults on police, even at the lowest of levels. 'The gentleman concerned in respect of my assault only received a community service order, and I did receive a lot of support from colleagues and members of the public in respect to the low sentencing that was offered to him.'
BreakingNews.ie
16-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man injured following racist attack by gang
A man has been injured following a racist attack involving a gang of up to 15 teenagers in south Belfast. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident in the Donegall Road area on Thursday evening. Advertisement The PSNI said a man aged in his 20s was walking home from work at around 10.25pm when he was approached by up to 15 teenagers at the junction of Pandora Street. We are appealing for witnesses following a report of a racially-motivated assault in the Donegall Road area of south Belfast on Thursday evening. Read more here : — Police South Belfast (@PSNIBelfastS) May 16, 2025 Members of this group surrounded the man and threw punches at him which caused injury to his nose. After throwing a traffic cone in his direction, the attackers then stole his bike and made off down Prince Andrew Park. The bike was later recovered by police some distance away. Advertisement South Belfast Neighbourhood Inspector Roisin Brown said: 'This unprovoked attack on a young man going about his business is completely unacceptable. 'He has been left shaken and distressed, as well as sustaining an injury which required medical treatment.' She added: 'We are treating this as a racially-motivated hate crime. 'Hate crime has no place in our society and we will be proactive in our approach to ensure justice for victims. Advertisement 'Our investigation is ongoing and local officers are working to identify those involved so that they can be held to account for their actions. 'We will continue to engage closely with partner agencies and local advocacy groups as our enquiries continue and we would appeal to anyone who might have any information which could assist us to bring these offenders to justice to get in touch via 101 quoting reference number 2059 of 15/05/25. 'We are particularly keen to view any footage available, whether that's CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam as this would be helpful to our investigation.'
BreakingNews.ie
07-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Officer suffers broken foot following attack on moving police vehicle
A PSNI officer has had his foot broken during disorder involving young people in Belfast. A senior officer said the incident happened during an attempt to apprehend a suspect after a large piece of metal was thrown at a moving police vehicle. Advertisement The incident occurred in the Roden Street area in the south of the city on Monday. Officer injured during south Belfast disorder — Police South Belfast (@PSNIBelfastS) May 6, 2025 Inspector Roisin Brown said: 'At approximately 8.15pm, officers deployed to the Roden Street area in response to reports of young people engaged in disorder and anti-social behaviour. 'During the incident, a large piece of metal was thrown at a marked police vehicle, narrowly missing the windscreen. 'The police vehicle was being driven at the time. Advertisement 'When police attempted to apprehend a suspect, one neighbourhood officer sustained a broken foot. 'He is receiving support but will be unable to carry out duties for a considerable amount of time whilst he recovers.' Ms Brown said the incident occurred at a time when the PSNI is stretched, and would result in one less neighbourhood officer being available in south Belfast. She added: 'A 16-year-old male was detained at the scene and police will be pursuing a criminal justice outcome in relation to this incident. Advertisement 'Assaults on our officers are completely unacceptable, and have lasting impacts physically and psychologically. 'Protecting the community we serve is important to us and injuries like this are not just part of the job. Ireland PSNI chief constable concerned over lack of Cathol... Read More 'I am once again asking parents and guardians to also speak to their young people. Know where they are, and help us by preventing them from engaging in behaviour which could result in injury or a criminal record. 'We ask anyone who sees any anti-social behaviour in the area, to contact 101 or 999 in an emergency. Advertisement 'Assaults on police pose a serious threat to the vital service police provide, and we will continue work with the Police Federation for Northern Ireland to support our officers.'
