You are destroying your own communities, Little-Pengelly tells rioters

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said all politicians in Northern Ireland had a duty to call the recent riots “racist violence”.

The remarks were made during a visit to a community centre in Belfast where he wanted to find out how the Government could help following the recent unrest sparked by anti-immigration protests.

He also met with politicians, police, affected business owners and the Belfast Islamic Centre.

Mr Benn said he became increasingly nervous as he listened to accounts from business owners whose businesses had been attacked.

However, he declined to say whether the Government would provide additional funding to help the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

He added that he was “well aware of the number of police officers” in Northern Ireland, but stressed that decisions on the matter were a matter for the executive.

“Whoever is in government, with the budget you have, you have to decide what your priorities are,” he said.

“I have no doubt that the police chief is making his case, as the justice minister certainly is.

“But that is a decision that the executive branch must make.”