Police investigating reports of alleged vigilante behaviour in east Belfast have arrested a 37-year-old man.

He has been taken into custody on suspicion of assault, theft, and causing criminal damage.

District Commander Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick stated that the actions of these individuals have been "generating fear in the community and it has to stop." He added that the groups are confronting and intimidating innocent members of the public "largely on the basis of the colour of their skin."

Superintendent Kirkpatrick emphasised that those involved have "neither the legal nor the moral authority" to do this, as it is the sole responsibility of the Police Service to enforce the law. Over the past week, the PSNI has deployed additional targeted patrols in the area to engage with, challenge, and monitor the groups, as well as to provide reassurance to the community. While this is the first arrest made, investigations are continuing.

Superintendent Kirkpatrick urged anyone who has been a victim of these groups to report it to the police, adding that the PSNI will "robustly deal with any offences brought to us."

Superintendent Kirkpatrick added: "Let me be very clear, these groups are not protecting the community from anything. In reality these groups are frustrating our efforts to provide a policing service to the people of east Belfast by forcing us to redirect our limited resources to monitoring them. I urge everyone involved in this type of activity to stop.

"I would encourage anyone with any information which could assist Police to contact us on 101 or report online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/."