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| Belfast flag protest: Policing board chair says talks will 'bear fruit' | Belfast flag protest: Policing board chair says talks will 'bear fruit' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The chair of the policing board in NI has said he believes dialogue on the union flag issue will "bear fruit". | |
| There have been nearly 40 days of protests over the decision by Belfast City Council to limit the flying of the union flag to designated days only. | There have been nearly 40 days of protests over the decision by Belfast City Council to limit the flying of the union flag to designated days only. |
| So far, the cost of policing protests and dealing with disorder during the first two weeks was £3.8m. | |
| Brian Rea said "dialogue and not disorder" was needed. | Brian Rea said "dialogue and not disorder" was needed. |
| Mr Rea was speaking after a meeting of the policing board on Thursday which PSNI Chief constable Matt Baggott attended. | Mr Rea was speaking after a meeting of the policing board on Thursday which PSNI Chief constable Matt Baggott attended. |
| On the same day, the new unionist forum met for the first time. | On the same day, the new unionist forum met for the first time. |
| "I want to pay tribute to those who are endeavouring to take this by a different route," Mr Rea said. | "I want to pay tribute to those who are endeavouring to take this by a different route," Mr Rea said. |
| "I believe the dialogue that has now commenced by the political leadership will bear fruit. | "I believe the dialogue that has now commenced by the political leadership will bear fruit. |
| "Dialogue and not disorder is the way to resolve this." | "Dialogue and not disorder is the way to resolve this." |
| 'Adversely impacted' | |
| Mr Rea said the chief constable had told the board that continued use of resources to police protests and respond to disorder would "within time have some knock-on impacts on other areas of policing". | Mr Rea said the chief constable had told the board that continued use of resources to police protests and respond to disorder would "within time have some knock-on impacts on other areas of policing". |
| However, he added that there was a firm commitment to ensure the service to the community was not "adversely impacted". | However, he added that there was a firm commitment to ensure the service to the community was not "adversely impacted". |
| On Thursday, the Confederation of British Industry estimated that the protests had cost businesses in Belfast up to £15m. | |
| Meanwhile, the DUP group on Belfast City Council has submitted a formal complaint about the flag decision. | |
| It has claimed the process made "multiple breaches" of the council's equality scheme. | |
| The unionist forum has set up a taskforce to engage with the wider community, and eight working groups on subjects across the unionist spectrum. | The unionist forum has set up a taskforce to engage with the wider community, and eight working groups on subjects across the unionist spectrum. |
| They will examine, education underachievement, parading, flags, the economy, culture, community building, voter registration and the issue of victims. | |
| The new body was established by the Democratic Unionist Party and the Ulster Unionist Party to address the ongoing union flag protest and other concerns within the unionist community. | The new body was established by the Democratic Unionist Party and the Ulster Unionist Party to address the ongoing union flag protest and other concerns within the unionist community. |
| On Friday, it is to meet members of the community in East Belfast. | |
| The meeting is being described as a "listening exercise" and an opportunity for forum members to hear the thoughts of local people. | |
| The Ulster Unionist leader, Mike Nesbitt, the East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and the Reverend Mervyn Gibson are expected to attend. |