DUP accused of stirring up racial tensions with Belfast playpark proposal | Belfast Live

All non-Unionist parties line up to condemn motion by Alderman Dean McCullough

The DUP have been accused of “dog whistle politics” and “stirring up racial tensions” against “non-whites” with a proposal on Belfast playparks presented to City Hall.

At the monthly meeting of the full Belfast City Council on Monday, September 1, all the non-Unionist parties were united in condemning a motion forwarded by DUP Alderman Dean McCullough, which unsuccessfully attempted to have a consultation for a new policy on alleged “predatory” behaviour in playparks across the city.

Alderman McCullough said at the end of the debate 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.

Others 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.

Alderman Dean McCullough said at the meeting: “I rise to speak on safeguarding Belfast playparks. I brought forward this motion because parents in communities across Belfast have told me that playparks, places meant for joy, are too often becoming places of fear.”

At a committee meeting at City Hall last month, the DUP motion was deferred over wording, and to look at legal implications with the City Solicitor.

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.”

Alderman McCullough said at the full council meeting on Monday: “In committee, Sinn Féin sought to dilute it, 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”

He unsuccessfully proposed the council reject the committee decision to defer, and instead adopt his original motion.

15 councillors from the unionist parties voted in favour of this DUP amendment, while 40 voted against it, from Sinn Féin, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party, and People Before Profit.

Sinn Féin Councillor Ronan McLaughlin said: “This is another version of the DUP going after one particular section in society. You can see that when they ask to consult with the Home Office – what the Home Office has to do with Belfast parks, I don’t know. But clearly this is targeted at one particular section of society.

“Our council parks already have bylaws, they are there, written, for everyone to see. There is legislation on the statute for any criminal activity regardless of whether it is in a park or not.

“So this is dog whistle politics. It is 18 months away from an election, the DUP is looking over its right-hand shoulder. This motion has nothing to do with protecting children in our parks, and everything to do with an election in 18 months. This sort of politics is divisive, and it will not work.”

SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite said 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.”

He added: “The point here is that the actual facts – not the whipping up of tensions, not the social media posts, the videos, the hyperbole – tell us something different.”

Councillor de Faoite presented an actual dog whistle in the chamber, and said in reference to Alderman McCullough: “I brought him a gift this evening, and he is more than welcome to take it. I am appalled that this type of politics has taken hold again in our city. I am appalled that we are hearing people talk about “illegals” and “unvetted people.” I am appalled that we are seeing this type of racism take hold.”

Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth said: “I work in child protection, I work with young people in the care system in East Belfast. I’ve done so for over 15 years

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 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.”

Alliance Councillor Jenna Maghie said every one of her experiences with her children at playparks this summer were “joyful except when in the queue for the slide.” She added: “I don’t think any of us has a problem with looking at policy in how we protect our parks, but we need to be honest that bylaws exist. Where they are lacking, let's strengthen them, but let's be honest about the fact they exist.”

She said the vigilante movement in recent weeks in East Belfast had “shaken me to my core.” She said: “It is incumbent on all of us to be responsible with the language that we use, to not inflame further, to not whip up tension.

“The place we need to start talking about ending violence against women and girls in this city is in homes, it is not in our playparks.”

People Before Profit Councillor Michael Collins said the motion was “pandering to racist tropes.” He added: “We know there are far-right forces now in Belfast who are going around boasting on social media about beating up defenceless migrants, of throwing their belongings into the River Lagan.

“The DUP don’t seem to be bothered by this in the slightest. What they are actually doing is pandering to that racist trope. I think it is a really sad and pitiful proposal to bring to this council, and we should reject it on the terms it is trying to stir racial tensions. It is not about protecting women and children.”

DUP Councillor Jordan Doran said: “Quite frankly I think we’re all getting a bit excited about this. We have parties saying we are attacking one group in society, that is absolutely right, predators.” He accused the other parties of an “anti DUP” agenda.