Indicator history

There is no legal definition in Irish law regarding what constitites ethnic profiling. The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) has defined ethnic profiling as: “…the use by police, security, immigration or customs officials of generalisations based on race, ethnicity, religion or national origin - rather than individual behaviour or objective evidence - as the basis for suspicion in directing discretionary law enforcement actions. It is most often manifest in police officers’ decisions about whom to stop for identity checks, questioning, searches, and sometimes arrest. Ethnic profiling can also be used to “mine” (or undertake computerized searches of) databases for potential terrorist suspects or in targeting surveillance and anti-radicalisation policies.”  (Source)

There is no official or overt sanctioning of ethnic profiling by the authorities in Ireland, but some evidence exists that it occurs. For more information please see the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland report 'Singled Out'