To ask the Minister of Justice what support the Hate Incident Practical Action Scheme and the Hate Crime Advocacy Service have provided to, or in the vicinity of, the homes of hate crime victims, in the last twelve months.

The Hate Incident Practical Action Scheme (HIPA), part funded by the Department of Justice, the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, is aimed at providing personal and home protection measures for victims of hate incidents where the incident has occurred at, or in the vicinity of, their home. Examples of such measures include the provision of personal attack alarms; personal, home and vehicle safety advice; securing/replacing doors and windows; graffiti removal; and fitting external bulk lighting with sensors, intercoms to identify callers, secure letter boxes, door viewers and door chains.

For the period January to December 2014, there have been 63 HIPA applications involving 60 addresses forwarded to the Housing Executive by the PSNI.

The Hate Crime Advocacy Service, mainly funded by the PSNI and with funding support from the Department of Justice and Northern Ireland Housing Executive, currently support victims of crime during the reporting and pre and post investigative stages of a hate incident or crime. The advocates are a consistent point of contact for victims who wish to engage with them for practical and/or emotional advice and assistance. Practical advice can include the provision of information on the HIPA scheme; housing issues; and support with communicating with the Housing Executive.