To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the development of a cross-departmental hate crime action plan.

The Department of Justice leads on the implementation of the Executive’s Building Safer, Shared and Confident Communities: A Community Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland 2012-2017.

The Strategy has a set of associated action plans, including a dedicated hate crime action plan detailing the measures which a multi-agency Hate Crime Delivery Group is taking forward under a safety remit to address hate crime.

These actions are designed to contribute to the wider Executive commitment to improve community relations and build a united and shared society, and to complement the policies and practice of government departments and their agencies intended to change the prejudices and attitudes within our wider society which are ultimately manifested in hate crime.

Examples of measures currently being delivered through the Hate Crime Delivery Group include: investment in a Hate Crime Advocacy Service, which aims to provide support, advice and assistance for victims of hate crime, and provide a third party reporting mechanism (PSNI and DOJ); investment in the tripartite (PSNI, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, DOJ) Hate Incident Practical Action Scheme, which provides personal and home protection measures for victims of hate crime; and the development of a pilot scheme by the Probation Board for offenders convicted of hate related crimes.

Copies of the action plan and annual progress reports are available in the publications section of the Department of Justice website.