By Deric Henderson
Belfast Telegraph
Copyright 2007 Belfast Telegraph

BELFAST, UK — Stone throwing attacks on essential services in Belfast are on the rise, it is being claimed today.

One in five are happening in the west and north of the city, according to new Queen's University research.

The findings are contained in a report commissioned by the Essential Services Safety Group (ESSG), led by Dr Peter Shirlow, from the School of Law. It was set up as a partnership involving Translink, taxi drivers and police, ambulance and fire services.

The report claims that between 2003 and 2007, there were 8,697 offences against the ambulance and fire service, police service, postal workers, taxi drivers and Translink. Between 2002 and 2004, there was one attack on the fire service for every 5,000 persons in NI compared to one for every 50,000 in the UK.

In 2006/2007 more than 10% of all offences in the province were committed against people from the essential services and between 2002 and 2005 there were 2,765 bus windows broken — around 13.2 a week.

"There is a need for legislative change and for greater funding for the ESSG to develop awareness and build meaningful partnerships that challenge such violence within communities," Dr Shirlow said.

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams said the research underlined the need for effective engagement between statutory agencies and communities.

He added: "To create safer communities, we must build stronger, sustainable communities."