David J. McInerneyPhD Student

Dept of Sociology, UCD.

‘To the racist, the ‘other’ is either a workaholic stealing our jobs or an idler living on the labour, and it is quite amusing to note the haste which one passes from reproaching the ‘other’ with a refusal to work to reproaching him for the theft of work’

(Zizek, S. 2000: 596)

Racist Incident RecordingRecords. Limitations in Recording.

2003 – 064

2004 – 068

2005 – 100

2006 – 173

2007 – 214

2008 – 172

2009 – 126

2010 - ????

Not conducive to bias indicator.

Definition: ‘any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person’.

(McPherson, W. 1999)

New Right Wing Groups –‘IWNP’ ‘gangsters – bleed system!

Taxi Industry – (Jaichand, 2010)

Internet & Facebook

Concealed Prejudice & Bias Integration Policy Favours Skilled/EEA/ Student Constitution Referendum 2004 – ‘crisis in Maternity Wards’

(548 Births in 2004) Nice & Lisbon Treaty 2009 FRA Survey on Discrimination & Abuse (73% Say –

Widespread – Worst in Europe!) Social Distance Scale: ‘Measure of hostility towards

refugees based on concept of social distance’ (Borgardus, 1933) used by (MacGreil, M. 1977 & 1996)

Survey 800 respondents in Dublin area - Group farthest from the individual was Travellers with Spaniards being the closest (Curry, P. 2000: 141)

Reduction Measures Researchers found that prejudice and intergroup

conflict can be reduced if:-

All are equal in legal status and opportunity

The State advocates equal rights for all

Groups have an opportunity to interact formally and informally with each other

Group cooperates to reach a common goal

(Allport, 1954)

Economic Downturn Gardai must be vigilant to identify evidence of racism

and evidence of bias motivation

‘Encourage reporting/Develop training for police/Appropriate systems to respond to hostility towards migrants’

(OSCE Decision 9/09 MC (17) Journal No: 2, Agenda Item 8 – Combating Hate Crime)

Garda Ethnic Liaison Officer Model – Most Appropriate!

Past Experiences ‘Frustrations attendant to economic downturn produce aggressive impulses that

are directed against vulnerable targets, such as minority groups even when the groups bear no actual or perceived responsibility for economic decline’ (Holland & Sears, 1940).

Stenner (1995) Traced white on black racial violence in the USA between 1960 –1989 and found unemployment and inflation to be significant predictors

‘Recession is fertile ground for creating the conditions for racism. Competition for jobs and scarce resources could cause racism to flourish. Leadership is needed from the Gardai in terms of developing culture of fairness and impartiality, building trust and confidence in the system so that conditions to encourage reporting of racist incidents are in place’.(European Citizenship Racism and Xenophobia – National Expert Forum: ‘Tackling Racism and the Impact of Stereotypes’, Dublin Castle 29/10/09).

Police Motivation to Take Action ‘Metropolitan Police Service had not understood the

centrality of community relations to policing multi-racial society’ (Scarman, 1981: 4.70: 66)

‘Community Police felt their work was not valued –disparaged as ‘pink and fluffy’. The importance of hate crime was still not understood or believed to constitute ‘real police work’.

(Foster, J.,Newburn, T., Souhami, A., 2005)

‘Officers who carry most symbolic capital are those who bring in good arrests’ (Bourdieu, 1990a: 93)

Police Motivation To Act ‘Respondents felt that community relations activities

were not highly regarded by the police hierarchy, and did not constitute a priority in terms of the organisation’s overall structure and activities’

(Mulcahy, A & O’Mahony, E. 2005: 33-34)

‘Requirement that promotion to senior ranks will require significant experience of community relations activities’ (2005: 35)

Policing Discrimination, Racism and Unconscious Bias in Society Communication at ‘front-line’ level

Activate Ethnic Liaison Officers within the community – ‘hard to reach groups’

Listen to the indigenous population – do not dismiss as racists!

School Visits

Monitor media and internet – Websites that encourage undesirable content about different ethnic and minority groups are flourishing!

Training

‘Anti-racism must be forged out of an alliance across all sectors of Irish society’ (Lentin, 2002: 223).

Actions of An Garda Siochana 2001 – 3% -v- 2006 – 10%

2001 – Garda Racial and Intercultural Office

2002 – Ethnic Liaison Officers (H.Q. 24/02)

2006 – Official Consultation Process (16/06)

2006 – ‘Diversity Works’ Programme

2007 – Recruitment of Ethnic Minorities

2009 – Executive Commitment to Diversity: Diversity Champion Appointed – ‘Garda Diversity Implementation Plan 2009 – 2012’.

Bibliography Allport, G. W. (1954) The Nature of Prejudice. Reading MA: Addison Wesley.

Bogardus, E.S. (1933) “A Social Distance Scale”, Sociology and Social Research, Vol. 17, pp. 265 – 271.

Curry, P. (2000) “...she never let them in”: Popular Reactions to Refugees Arriving in Dublin’, in Cultivating Pluralism: Psychological, Social and Cultural Perspectives on a Changing Ireland., pp. 137 – 153. Dublin: Oak Tree Press.

Foster, J.,Newburn, T., Souhami, A. (2005) Assessing the Impact of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry’, Home Office Research Study 294, London: Home Office.

Jaichand, V. (2010) Riding along with Racism? A research report on the Galway Taxi Industry: Employment Opportunities, Patterns of Public Use and User Perceptions. Centre for Human Rights. Galway: National University of Ireland.

Kiernan, J. (15/08/10) White Hate – National Affront. Sunday Independent Life Magazine., pp.20-23.

Contd......./ Lentin, R & McVeigh, R. (2002) Racism and Anti-Racism in Ireland. Belfast: Beyond the

Pale.

MacGreil, M. (1977) Prejudice and Tolerance in Ireland. Dublin: College of Industrial Relations

MacGreil, M. (1996) Prejudice in Ireland Revisited. Survey and Research Unit, St. Patrick’s College.

Mulcahy, A & O’Mahony, E. (2005) Policing and Social Marginalisation in Ireland. Combat Poverty Agency. Working Paper: 05/02.

Rowe, M. (2004) Policing Race and Racism. Collumpton: Willan

Scarman, L. (1981) The Brixton Disorders. London: HMSO.

Zizek, S. (2000) ‘Enjoy your nation as yourself ’ in Beck, L and Solomon, J., Theories of Race and Racism, p. 596. London: Routledge.