Conference tallis::celt

1282.0. "Youth and Harassment" by KOALA::HOLOHAN () Wed Nov 10 1993 12:21

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From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.celtic
Date: 09 Nov 93 14:24 PST
Subject: Harassment in N.I.
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From: [email protected]
Subject: Harassment in N.I.

                      YOUTH AND HARASSMENT
                      by Dr. Robbie McVeigh

                              *****

The Committee on the Administration of Justice is in the process
of analyzing and writing up a research project on the security
forces and harassment in Northern Ireland. While some of the
preliminary results have confirmed existing fears about the level
and intensity of alleged harassment, others have pointed to areas
which have been under-researched and deserve further discussion.
The research is based is based upon a random sample of 17-18 year
old people from across Northern Ireland. This sample received a
questionnaire asking them to detail any experiences of harassment
from the security forces. Some of this harassment, although still
worrying, is *relatively* minor; for instance, unnecessary delay
and verbal abuse. However, there are also more serious
allegations of physical abuse, assault and death threats. (note:
asterisks are used to indicate that the word so designated was
italicized by Dr. McVeigh in the original article. emc)

Harassment of Nationalist/Catholic Youth

Approximately *one third* of respondents identify harassment of
some description. Younger people identifying as Catholic are
particularly likely to identify harassment--research suggests
that 50% of younger Catholics experience harassment from the
security forces in some Catholic areas. It also suggests that the
reforms of security force policy and practice over recent years
have failed to have their intended impact. Whatever improvements
have been made, there remains a crisis of confidence in the
police and army among Catholics,. Many have also immediate
personal cause to believe that widespread and serious harassment
continue.

Harassment of Protestant/Loyalist Youth

The research also provides evidence of a worrying intensification
of harassment of younger Protestants in Northern Ireland. One
quarter of those respondents identifying harassment also
identify as Protestant. This statistic undermines the notion that
there are no problems with policing of Protestant areas. Sine the
Anglo-Irish Agreement there has been a developing tension between
the Unionist community and the RUC--especially in working class
areas. In recent years Loyalists have died in plastic bullet and
lethal force incidents. They have also been increasingly subject
to harassment, malicious prosecutions and the threat of malicious
prosecutions; the latter often attached to attempts to recruit
informers. An indication of just how absolute this breakdown has
become is that some community spokepersons in the Loyalist areas
have spoken of such areas being "just like the Falls {Nationalist
area} in four or five years." This situation demands more
attention and concern than it has received.

Sexual Harassment

Another worrying aspect of the research is that it highlights a
profound problem with sexist harassment and the security forces.
This problem has rarely been addressed by civil liberties
activists in Northern Ireland or by other concerned parties.
Allegations include widespread sexist verbal abuse and offensive
behavior. It is clear that some members of the security forces
are abusing their extensive emergency powers in a sexist manner.
Some of this behavior is clearly intended to harass, other
harassment seems to occur simply because of the macho culture of
policing Northern Ireland. Either way such behavior is clearly
worrying for the women concerned. Furthermore, it is repugnant
and inexcusable and should be addressed forthwith.


Complaining Ineffective

The research suggests that the existing complaints mechanisms are
almost completely ineffective. The vast majority of respondents
who had been harassed did not report the harassment to either
government or non-government agencies. Some of these felt that
their harassment was not serious enough to report but most felt
that "nothing would be done." Even more disturbing was that many
people felt they would be further harassed by the security forces
if they reported harassment. Of those who did report harassment,
most felt dissatisfied with the result. Thus there is clearly a
need to radically improve confidence in, and the efficacy of,
complaints mechanisms.

In total the research highlights continuing concerns with
policing and the administration of justice in Northern Ireland.
It is worrying that so many young people across Northern Ireland
experience harassment from the security forces without any
effective remedy. Such widespread harassment cannot be justified
in terms of the 'emergency' situation--most community
spokesperson are convinced that harassment has no function in
terms of policing and that it serves to further alienation of
people from the security forces. The research suggests that
Government needs to take immediate action to prevent harassment
by the security forces taking place. Furthermore, Government must
ensure that, when harassment does occur, there is a quick,
effective and *safe* remedy for the person involved.

                              *****
Dr. Robby McVeigh lectures is sociology at Queen's University,
Belfast and University College, Dublin. He was commissioned by
the CAJ to undertake a one year research project into harassment
and the security forces in Northern Ireland. The final research
report will appear in early 1994.

                              ****

This item appeared in the October 1993 issue of the 'Northern
Ireland Human Rights Review." It is published by the American
Protestants for Truth about Ireland. The review is available
by sub from:

                              APTI
                       104 E. Main Street
                       Lansdale, PA  19446

                       tele: 215-362-3888
                        fax: 215-362-5908

$20.00 year for sub.

*******************************************************************************

Hardly a revelation. It is well known that the heavy presence of security
forces in NI has increased the amount of harrassment. BTW, in case you are
not aware, harrassment of 17/18 year olds is common throughout Britain 
because of the high instance of crime amongst that age group and subsequent 
police frustration. No doubt it happens elsewhere in the world where there 
is a heavy police presence.

Dave.