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Belfast flag protest: Policing board chair says talks will 'bear fruit' Belfast flag protest: DUP lodge formal complaint to council
(35 minutes later)
The chair of the policing board in NI has said he believes dialogue on the union flag issue will "bear fruit". The Democratic Unionist Party has submitted a formal complaint to Belfast City Council over the decision to restrict the flying of the union flag.
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 council's decision to fly the flag on designated days only.
So far, the cost of policing protests and dealing with disorder during the first two weeks was £3.8m. The DUP group on the council claimed the process made multiple breaches of the council's own equality scheme.
The cost of policing protests and disorder during the first two weeks of the street campaign was £3.8m.
The DUP group said lodging a complaint with the council was "the first step towards a formal complaint to the Equality Commission and ultimately possible legal action".
It added: "The DUP is committed to pursuing all political avenues to overturning the disastrous decision by Sinn Fein, SDLP and the Alliance party and to repairing the harm to good relations and a shared future it has caused."
Meanwhile, the chair of the policing board in NI has said he believes dialogue on the union flag issue will "bear fruit".
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. He 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.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.They will examine, education underachievement, parading, flags, the economy, culture, community building, voter registration and the issue of victims.
'Listening exercise'
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.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 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.The Ulster Unionist leader, Mike Nesbitt, the East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and the Reverend Mervyn Gibson are expected to attend.