The current total represents a considerable under documentation of the true scale of racist harassment

Racism report

Racist assaults on children have soared from 8.5% of total attacks in 1996 to more than 16% in 1999.

The report authors said the rise in reported incidents was due to an increased number, a greater willingness of people to report incidents and a greater awareness by the police of the need to record racist incidents.

Travelling community

The report was commissioned by the equality and social need division of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

It said the figures did not include any reference to harassment experienced in schools or hospitals.

There were also no incidents recorded by any other statutory, community or voluntary body and few incidents reported by members of the travelling community, said the report.

There is a need for understanding and tolerance and to combat racism

Patricia Lewsley SDLP

The authors said this suggested that "the current total represents a considerable under documentation of the true scale of racist harassment experienced by minority ethnic communities".

The report said harassment was experienced by all minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland - with the highest number of incidents in south and north Belfast.

It found the attacks were more likely to take place in Protestant areas of the city.

"Very few incidents have been recorded in west Belfast," it said.

"This may be a reflection of racist attitudes but more likely it reflects the fact that housing is more readily available in Protestant working class areas than in Catholic working class areas."

The SDLP's Patricia Lewsley expressed concern at the findings of the report.

"There is a need for teachers, those involved in community and voluntary groups, and politicians to work together to promote understanding and tolerance and combat racism," she said.