The DPP heard attacks on ethnic groups are rising

Attacks in north Belfast doubled between April and September this year, the city's District Policing Partnership has been told.

Over the 183-day period there were 129 so-called hate crimes recorded throughout the city.

Belfast DPP member Naomi Long described the statistics as "disturbing" and said more could be done.

"I think the police are doing something," she said.

I do think the police need to consider the issue of surveillance Naomi Long Belfast DPP

"I think there are things that can be done, for example, in terms of some of the attacks which are repeat attacks on property and individuals.

"I do think the police need to consider the issue of surveillance, for example, to try and apprehend the people that are involved because one of the disappointing things is how few people are convicted."

The statistics were given to the Belfast DPP on Monday after the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee met in the city to probe hate crime legislation.

'Rapidly growing'

Representatives of gay and ethnic minority groups told MPs that greater support was needed from the police to deal with attacks.

MPs heard the police could benefit from training, while Anna Lo of the Chinese Welfare Association said officers can be dismissive of attacks.

The number of racist attacks has doubled in the past year and the gay community has also been targeted.

Meanwhile, a firework has been thrown into a house in Portrush, County Antrim, in what police believe was a racially motivated attack.

It caused smoke damage to a room in the building at Glenarm Avenue.

There were no reports of any injuries in the attack, which took place at about 2120 BST on Tuesday.

'Underestimated the problem'

An anti-homophobic week is to be held in Belfast in December.

In May, a report by the committee found hate crime was a "rapidly growing problem" in the province.

It said current police figures for race-related and homophobic incidents underestimated the problem.

It also called for the government to change the proposed legislation on hate crime to give better protection to disabled people. This change came into effect in June.

The committee said the government needed to include attacks on the disabled in the draft Criminal Justice (NI) Order, to be introduced later this year.

The planned legislation would require judges to take into account any racial, religious or sexual orientation factors when sentencing.