Videos posted on the Belfast Nightwatch First Division Facebook page show the groups walking the streets at night.<\/p>\n
In some of the videos there are angry confrontations with men who appear to be from minority ethnic backgrounds.<\/p>\n
Standing outside what is confirmed as a HMO, a man who appears to be from the Nightwatch group advises that a ethnic minority man would be better staying home at night because he was \u201cseen out on the street causing suspicious activity\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis best move,\u201d the Nightwatch member said, was to \u201chead home and stay off the streets at night\u201d as there are teams patrolling \u201cbecause there are that many undocumented men coming into this country\u201d.<\/p>\n
He challenges a white man in the doorway asking why he\u2019s happy to \u201clive with five undocumented men\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Nightwatch member then claims \u201cundocumented men are coming into the country, raping our kids, raping our women, causing trouble on the streets\u201d.<\/p>\n
He gets aggressive claiming the man has no right to be on the street at night, and when asked to mind the noise, tells the man in the doorway, \u201cbe thankful it\u2019s only noise,\u201d adding, \u201ctake the message because next time it might not be as pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other videos show members of the Nightwatch group insisting that men leave the area and confronting a shop worker.<\/p>\n
On the Facebook page the group describes itself as \u2018Concerned Parents, from all communities, working together, patrolling Belfast streets, for the safety and protection of our children and vulnerable people\u2019.<\/p>\n
However, Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth said he has received \u201cmultiple complaints from people about a self-styled vigilante groups operating patrols in East Belfast and questioning people\u201d.<\/p>\n
Almost half of those arrested for race hate disorder in Belfast last August had previously been reported to the PSNI for domestic abuse.<\/p>\n
Police data, obtained through a freedom of information (FOI) request by investigative website The Detail, highlights a significant overlap between public violent disorder and domestic violence.<\/p>\n