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Belfast flag protest: DUP lodge formal complaint to council Belfast flag protest: DUP lodge formal complaint to council
(about 4 hours later)
The Democratic Unionist Party has submitted a formal complaint to Belfast City Council over the decision to restrict the flying of the union flag.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 council's decision to fly the flag on designated days only.There have been nearly 40 days of protests over the council's decision to fly the flag on designated days only.
The DUP group on the council claimed the process made multiple breaches of the council's own equality scheme.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. But the council said it had taken legal advice and the decision was in line with an Equality Impact Assessment.
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". Belfast City Council took the decision to restrict the number of days the union flag is raised at its meeting on 3 December.
A campaign of street protests ensued, some of them followed by violence.
In the first two weeks of the campaign, the cost of policing protests and disorder was £3.8m.
On Friday, the DUP group on Belfast City Council 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."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."
However, the council said flag policy decision had been "taken democratically" by elected members.
"The council has taken legal advice throughout this process and the decision is in keeping with the outcome of the Equality Impact Assessment that was undertaken in line with the advice of the Equality Commission.
"The designated days agreed are in keeping with those notified by the UK Government's Department of Culture Media and Sports."
Meanwhile, the chair of the policing board in NI has said he believes dialogue on the union flag issue will "bear fruit".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.
He 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."
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.
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''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 met 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 was 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 were expected to attend.