Good Relations Indicators - 2017 Update Report

Date published: 29 September 2017

The Good Relations Indicator report published today presents a range of statistics relating to community relations, including numbers of hate crimes, attitudinal data on Protestant/Catholic relations and attitudes towards mixing in schools, neighbourhoods and the workplace.

Statistical news release - OFMDFM

The purpose of the indicators is to monitor the state of good relations in the population over time. All figures are for 2016 unless otherwise stated

Key points

Our Children and Young People

52% of young people and 59% of adults think that relationships between Protestants and Catholics are better now than they were five years ago. Figures for the previous year were 47% and 52% respectively.
55% of young people and 77% of adults report that they feel favourable towards people from minority ethnic communities.  A respective increase of six percentage points and 10 percentage points, since the previous year. 

Our Shared Community

58% of schools were involved in shared education with another school in the previous year.
91% of people say that they can be open about their cultural identity in their neighbourhood, and 89% say the same about their workplace.

Our Safe Community

In 2016/17, 694 hate crimes were sectarian in motive, and 660 were racially motivated. Corresponding figures for the previous year were 1,001 and 853 respectively.
24% of people said they had been annoyed by republican murals, kerb paintings or flags in the last year. 29% of people said they had been annoyed by loyalist murals, kerb paintings or flags in the last year. The previous year this was 18% and 23% respectively.

Our Cultural Expression

76% of people believe that the culture and traditions of the Catholic community adds to the richness and diversity of Northern Ireland society.  The same proportion (76%) believe this about Protestant culture and traditions, whilst a smaller proportion (64%) believe this about the culture and traditions of people from different Minority Ethnic groups.
Three in 10 adults (30%) felt like they have an influence when it comes to any of the local decisions made in their neighbourhood, and more than a quarter (29%) to the decisions made in Northern Ireland.  For young people, these proportions were much lower (11% and 8%, respectively).

The report is available on the Executive Office Statistics and Research Branch website at Good Relations Indicators - 2017 Update

Notes to editors: 

1. Further information relating to the collection and production of the statistics can be obtained by contacting:

Matthew McFarland
Statistics and Research Branch
The Executive Office
E4.03
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SG
Tel: (028) 905 28200
E-mail:  matthew.mcfarland@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

2. Media enquiries to TEO Press Office on 028 9037 8142. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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