In a statement on August 25, 2025 a spokesperson for Cumann Tomás Ó hAirt, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Ard Mhacha Thuaidh said” “The misconduct and plummeting credibility of the British colonial police in Occupied Ireland continues.
“The RUC/PSNI have been blatant in their use of racial profiling. This incident comes on the back of the recently-published Race and Ethnicity Action Plan (2025-2030). The so called leader of the colonial police Jon Boucher said, ‘This plan represents our ongoing commitment to our ethnic minority communities ensuring that everyone feels safe, supported and respected. We recognise the importance of listening to all communities and working together to build a policing service that truly reflects the diversity of the society we serve.’ He concludes, ‘The plan includes commitments to being an anti-racist police service, valuing diversity, and building trust with ethnic minority communities.’
“According to news media, residents in the Obins Street area of Portadown said that two RUC/PSNI members called at properties around 8pm on August 23, asked to see passports, enquired whether the buildings were Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and questioned how long people had been living at the addresses. These visits had been unannounced and therefore being framed as harassment.
“The RUC/PSNI has faced historical questions for both sectarian and racial profiling, particularly in relation to stop and search practices. Figures show that people from minority ethnic communities are almost twice as likely to be stopped and searched by the RUC/PSNI. In 2021, minority ethnic individuals made up six per cent of the population but accounted for almost 11% of all stop and searches.
“In a more recent times, between April 30-July 31, 2024 research confirmed that of those who responded, 136 people said they were from the CNR community, while 52 were from a Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist (PUL) background. The out workings of such research has demonstrated that Catholics/nationalists are targeted more often in stop and search operations. This also demonstrates that there has been no change to both sectarian and racial profiling practices.
“Sinn Féin Poblachtach says nothing will change until complete disbandment. The colonial police in the Occupied Six Counties may have changed their name, but they still have the same aims.”
PRO
Cumann Tomás Ó hAirt, Ard Mhacha Thuaidh
CRÍOCH/END
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