Learning lessons from MacPherson? The police and racist incidents in Northern Ireland

Patel, T

Abstract

Given the increase in the reporting of racist incidents in Northern Ireland involving attacks against members of its black and minority ethnic population, this paper focuses on the degree to which these racist incidents are successfully policed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. To do this, it draws on a small study where nine semi-structured interviews were used with those undertaking policing duties. The study examined the work being done by the PSNI at a senior management level to address the visible increase in racist incidents, and then considered how these initiatives were being executed at operational level. In critically considering police work, referring to for example, Kalra’s ‘police lore’ (2003), Reiner’s ‘cop culture’ (2000), and Macpherson’s ‘institutional racism’ (1999), the key finding of the research was that although the policing of racist incidents were being taken seriously on an organisational level, some underlying assumptions about a racial hierarchy continued to exist amongst operational officers. It is argued that these underlying assumptions then go on to impact on policing practice. The paper however suggests the opportunity for progressive change, and makes a number of recommendations on how to best move forward with policing of racist incidents in Northern Ireland, in order to produce fair and accountable policing, as well as justice for those experiencing racist incidents.

Citation

Patel, T. (2010, June). Learning lessons from MacPherson? The police and racist incidents in Northern Ireland. Presented at Stockholm Criminology Symposium, Stockholm, Sweden

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: Stockholm Criminology Symposium
• Conference Location: Stockholm, Sweden
• Start Date: Jun 14, 2010
• End Date: Jun 16, 2010
• Deposit Date: Oct 28, 2011
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference