Belfast MLA calls for reintroduction of intimidation points after families forced from homes

Intimidation points were removed from the Housing Selection Scheme earlier this year

A Belfast MLA has called for the reintroduction of intimidation points after families have been forced from their homes.

Families living in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street areas of North Belfast have been subjected to intimidation and attacks, including verbal threats. It is understood four Catholic families living in the mixed housing development have been told to leave immediately.

It comes after reports the West Belfast UDA last week pulled out of a deal to stop attacks on the development. In May, families in the area had their homes targeted by masked men in what police are treating as sectarian hate crimes.

READ MORE: North Belfast representatives condemn ‘appalling’ intimidation of families by West Belfast UDAREAD MORE: ‘Outrageous and totally unacceptable’: Condemnation over reported intimidation of Catholic families in north Belfast

Following the incidents, West Belfast People Before Profit MLA, Gerry Carroll, has called for the reintroduction of the intimidation points system. In January, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced the removal of intimidation points from the Housing Selection Scheme.

Now, Gerry Carroll said not being entitled to intimidation points means victims of sectarian violence lose out on points they need to be allocated a “permanent home in a place of safety.”

He said: “The west Belfast UDA’s successful attempt to intimidate Catholic families out of their homes in Annalee and Alloa Streets is blatant sectarian hatred. Their actions only serve to intimate the very communities that paramilitaries claim to ‘protect’.

“To make matters even worse, the families forced to flee their homes by sectarian thugs aren’t entitled to intimidation points after the DUP Communities Minister abolished them earlier this year.

“At the time, I warned that as a direct result of the Communities Minister’s decision, people who have been intimidated or subject to sectarian, racist or homophobic attacks would lose out on the points they need to be allocated a new, permanent home in a place of safety.

“This is the situation in which these north Belfast families find themselves. They have been forced to make a choice between staying in a home where they are subject to violence and intimidation, turn to sofa surfing or else uproot their life and move into temporary accommodation away from their family and community.

“It is unacceptable that paramilitaries continue to act with impunity in 2025. As long as the Executive fails to tackle the crisis in our public services and continues to give funding and legitimacy to umbrella groups representing the interests of paramilitary gangs, paramilitaries will never disband.”

Intimidation points were in place since 2000 and were granted in “threat to life” situations, such as if someone’s home was destroyed or damaged in hate attacks such as sectarian or racist attacks. This enabled people at high risk of violence to be rehomed quickly.

The Minister said the removal of intimidation points was in a bid to “level the playing field for victims of violence”, as they were not granted to victims of domestic violence, with the change to points an attempt to remove a hierarchy of violence.

There had also been concerns that the intimidation points system could be manipulated to allow perpetrators of violence to be fast-tracked for housing.

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