DUP calls for report detailing incidents “of a predatory, indecent or threatening nature” in playparks
A DUP proposal for Belfast playparks, described as “stirring up racial tensions” and using “dog whistle politics” has been refused at a City Hall committee.
At a Belfast City Council committee meeting this week, councillors rejected a controversial motion by DUP Alderman Dean McCullough which called for a consultation about new policy on alleged “predatory” behaviour in playparks across the city.
Last month all the non-unionist parties were united in condemning the motion. Alderman McCullough said at the end of a fractious debate at the full council he would be seeking “advice” after other elected members said the motion was “racist,” and that it was aiming to whip up tensions rather than help women and young girls.
READ MORE: Latest row over Irish language street signs in Belfast focuses on survey times
READ MORE: Monument approved for unmarked Muslim graves in West Belfast Cemetery
The DUP motion reads: “Belfast City Council expresses its deep concern at the growing number of reports relating to indecent, threatening, and predatory behaviour in council-owned playparks across Belfast.
“These spaces, intended for the happiness and well-being of children, are increasingly being compromised by individuals loitering without lawful purpose, in a manner that alarms parents and communities. This council believes that every child has the right to play safely, and every parent has the right to peace of mind when bringing their children to a local park.
“Public spaces must reflect public values – including the protection of childhood innocence, the upholding of decency, and the moral duty to safeguard the vulnerable. Accordingly, this council commits to the creation of a comprehensive Safeguarding Belfast’s Playparks Policy, to prohibit loitering in and around children’s playparks by any adult not accompanying a child, or without a legitimate purpose”
The motion calls for “a full public consultation, both online and in person, to hear the views of residents, parents/guardians, and community organisations in directly shaping this policy.” It also commits City Hall “to work with statutory bodies – including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Home Office, and community organisations – to combat predatory sexual crime and anti-social behaviour in our public spaces.”
Councillors from non-unionist parties pointed out that statistics relating to Belfast playparks showed antisocial and criminal behaviour was at its lowest in five years, and that the police said some recent accounts showed “misreporting” of behaviour in playparks. One councillor said the motion was preparation for an election in 18 months.
Despite the condemnation from non-unionist parties, the matter was deferred for further consideration of the motion to allow information to be provided to the party group leaders on the consultation and policy process
At the October meeting of the council’s People and Communities Committee, held this week, the motion was formally refused, with 13 councillors in favour of a Sinn Féin proposal to drop it, with support from Sinn Féin, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party, and People Before Profit, against six councillors from the DUP and UUP, who wanted the motion adopted. This vote will have to be ratified at full council next month.
At the committee meeting this week, DUP Councillor Jordan Doran requested “in light of the ongoing public concern about safety at playparks” a council officer report detailing the number of reported incidents and reported crimes within Belfast City Council parks and playparks over the last 24 months, broken down “by category.”
Within that he requested the number of incidents or offences “of a predatory, indecent or threatening nature as reported through PSNI or council-reported channels.” He also requested that the report outline the current process “of how such instances are logged and responded to by the council.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly said: “Off the back of our council meeting in September, we came to the conclusion we could not agree on the wording of this motion, and we tried prior to that that to come to some sort of agreement with the proposer. Unfortunately we were not able to do that.” She proposed not moving forward with the motion.
At the full council meeting in September, SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite actually brought in a dog whistle for Alderman McCullough, and added the DUP motion was “divisive” and “puts people at risk.” He said: “It whips up fear and tension, and creates an environment that we should not be standing for.”
He added: “There has been some good-faith engagement from other parties, who say we are willing to have a conversation about safety in parks and playparks, and to do it rationally and sanely, to speak the facts, and with the relevant stakeholders and statutory partners.
“This includes the police, who told me last week in an East Belfast meeting that actually some of these incidents that some elected reps have referred to are being misreported. That is a problem whenever facts are being distorted.
“It is a problem when facts provided from our own parks department indicate that antisocial behaviour and incidents reported in parks are on a downward trend. In fact last year was the lowest in five years.”
Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth said: “I’ll tell you one issue I have seen in our local parks in the last number of weeks, supposed self-styled vigilantes patrolling these parks late at night.
“Doing what? Some of the people have been reported as having recent criminal records. They are targeting people whose skin is not white – they are nothing more than racist scumbags, and I will not be retracting that. And I have heard very little, to nothing, from the DUP on these vigilantes. They are an absolute curse in this city.
“These people who are supposed to be protecting women and girls? They are the last people you would expect to be protecting women and girls. We have seen people arrested for the racial violence in Northern Ireland, 48 percent of them have been previously arrested for domestic abuse.
“Who is the threat to women and girls, I would say it is indigenous, local, straight, Northern Irish men.”
Alderman McCullough said last month: “In committee, Sinn Féin sought to dilute (the motion), removing the reference to predatory behaviour, removing consultation, reducing it to a vague “Safety in Belfast parks” policy.
“Why? That is not good enough. When a mother says she doesn’t feel safe bringing her children to her local play park because of loitering, harassment or indecent exposure, she isn’t talking about general criminality, she is talking about predatory behaviour. If we cannot name the problem, we cannot solve the problem.”
He added: “Some critics have called this “dog whistle” politics. What an insult, not to me, but to the parents and children who simply want safe playparks. Others have called me “the worst of the DUP.” Well if standing up against predators makes me the worst, I’ll wear that badge with honour. And then there was those more concerned with my social media language than with predatory behaviour.”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter
#DUP #Belfast #playpark #proposal #accused #stirring #racial #tensions #voted #City #Hall
