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Northern Ireland policing against loyalist flag protests 'too weak' Northern Ireland policing against loyalist flag protests 'too weak'
(4 months later)
Policing must be as robust against loyalist paramilitaries involved in violent protests over the union flag as it is towards dissident republicans, rank and file police officers have said.Policing must be as robust against loyalist paramilitaries involved in violent protests over the union flag as it is towards dissident republicans, rank and file police officers have said.
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland has called for tougher action against the Ulster Volunteer Force, which, it alleged, was behind the disturbances sparked by Belfast city council's decision to limit the days the union flag could be flown at city hall.The Police Federation of Northern Ireland has called for tougher action against the Ulster Volunteer Force, which, it alleged, was behind the disturbances sparked by Belfast city council's decision to limit the days the union flag could be flown at city hall.
Terry Spence, the federation's chairman, revealed that 448 police officers had been injured during public disorder since last July. Of that number, 147 have been injured in violence linked to flag protests since the incidents began last December, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).Terry Spence, the federation's chairman, revealed that 448 police officers had been injured during public disorder since last July. Of that number, 147 have been injured in violence linked to flag protests since the incidents began last December, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Speaking at the federation's annual conference in County Down, Spence also claimed that the PSNI's high command was too afraid to allow his members to use plastic baton rounds to repel rioters because of complaints from politicians.Speaking at the federation's annual conference in County Down, Spence also claimed that the PSNI's high command was too afraid to allow his members to use plastic baton rounds to repel rioters because of complaints from politicians.
"The sight of AEPs [plastic bullets] tends to concentrate the minds of potential rioters. Too often, it is fear of adverse comment from our politicians that inhibits senior officers from fulfilling their duty of care to the men and women on the ground," Spence told delegates during one of the most hard-hitting speeches on security policy from the police federation in Northern Ireland for years."The sight of AEPs [plastic bullets] tends to concentrate the minds of potential rioters. Too often, it is fear of adverse comment from our politicians that inhibits senior officers from fulfilling their duty of care to the men and women on the ground," Spence told delegates during one of the most hard-hitting speeches on security policy from the police federation in Northern Ireland for years.
In a direct attack on the PSNI's leadership, Spence said: "As a force, the PSNI seem to have taken comfort in the mistaken belief that no officers have been seriously injured at these regular scenes of public disorder. We are not cannon fodder."In a direct attack on the PSNI's leadership, Spence said: "As a force, the PSNI seem to have taken comfort in the mistaken belief that no officers have been seriously injured at these regular scenes of public disorder. We are not cannon fodder."
On the role of the UVF and other loyalist paramilitaries in street violence, he said: "It is unacceptable to us as police officers, or indeed to the community, that we appear reluctant to enforce the law because of the fear of provoking uncontainable confrontation with the [loyalist paramilitary] UVF bully boys.On the role of the UVF and other loyalist paramilitaries in street violence, he said: "It is unacceptable to us as police officers, or indeed to the community, that we appear reluctant to enforce the law because of the fear of provoking uncontainable confrontation with the [loyalist paramilitary] UVF bully boys.
"Our politicians and our police service need to address the perception in the wider community by clearly demonstrating that we are standing up to the UVF as well as the dissident republicans.""Our politicians and our police service need to address the perception in the wider community by clearly demonstrating that we are standing up to the UVF as well as the dissident republicans."
Spence also labelled the republican dissident groups as "a sad group of misfits who cannot accept that violence, in pursuit of any political objective, has no place in any democracy".Spence also labelled the republican dissident groups as "a sad group of misfits who cannot accept that violence, in pursuit of any political objective, has no place in any democracy".
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland represents 7,000 officers in Northern Ireland.The Police Federation of Northern Ireland represents 7,000 officers in Northern Ireland.
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