SDLP policing confusion coming to a head

national | crime and justice | press release

Friday July 16, 2004 12:19

by Stoop Down Low Party

The SDLP have yet again gone down the road of doublespeak on policing, according to Sinn Féin's Michael Ferguson.

SDLP continue to dodge core Policing issues

West Belfast Sinn Féin Assembly member Michael Ferguson has accused the SDLP's Alex Attwood of 'dodging the core issue of the conduct of the PSNI over the past week'.

Mr Ferguson said:

" For nationalists and republicans the issue of the PSNI is very clear. The vast majority of the nationalist and republican community have endorsed the Sinn Féin position in successive elections. The SDLP endorsed and are continuing to endorse flawed and unaccountable policing.

" In the past few weeks the PSNI have hemmed in nationalist communities on the Springfield Road, Ardoyne and Lurgan in order to facilitate anti-Catholic parades through those areas. In Ardoyne they attacked and assaulted local people including the Assembly member for the area Gerry Kelly.

" Alex Attwood's senior colleague on the Policing Board Des Rea absolved the PSNI from any blame for the breaches of the Parades Commission determinations or for the attacks on the nationalist community. This from the head of the body Alex Attwood claims will hold the PSNI to account.

" Instead of following the line from other senior SDLP representatives including Martin Morgan that the SDLP should review their position on Policing Alex Attwood continues to defend the PSNI and instead turns to attacking Sinn Féin. The defend the indefensible position being adopted by Alex Attwood will further anger nationalists and republicans who have witnessed the activities of the PSNI over the marching season.

" The fact is that the PSNI is still unionist in its ethos and make-up and when it comes to a decision between Orange demands and nationalist rights the PSNI will always adopt the unionist position. It would be more productive for Mr Attwood to admit this and join with Sinn Féin in attempting to get policing right." ENDS

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Comments (9 of 9)

Full reform is needed

by chris bond

Fri Jul 16, 2004 17:09

I am afraid that the PSNI will remain little more than a rebadged RUC until the patton report is implemented.However i applaud nationalists who have bitten the bullet and have decided to join up.It may take 10 years for the north to have a proper police force.Until then sinn fein`s criticism of the PSNI will have a certain rationale about it.

The only answer

by Who polices the police

Fri Jul 16, 2004 17:17

Is to put Gerry Kelly in charge. He did a wonderful job the other night. Wont' be long now.

isn't that what it was all about?

by :-)

Fri Jul 16, 2004 20:22

or wasn't it?

9 out of 10 housewives prefer unarmed SF marshalling

by Decommission the RUC

Sat Jul 17, 2004 00:08

There is a difference between Gerry Kelly's community policing/unarmed SF community marshalling compared with baton weilding armour plated PSNI thugs heavy handed policing.

Given the choice, 9 out of 10 housewives prefer unarmed Sein Fein crowd marshalling over PSNI armed baton weilding militarised thugs.

Reform

by Rooster

Tue Jul 20, 2004 22:56

Full reform is needed
by chris bond Friday, Jul 16 2004, 4:09pm
I am afraid that the PSNI will remain little more than a rebadged RUC until the patton report is implemented

Until Sin Fein join the policing boards and engage in dialogue on the policing issue then their comments on policing are invalid. If your going to implement patton what about the rest of the GFA like decommisioning?

i agree

Tue Jul 20, 2004 23:54

As an SDLP sympathiser,I applaud their decision to support policing.Im not condoning sinn fein`s position im just saying that full implementation of the patton report will perhaps encourage them to change their minds,until then their criticism is rational.

But Chris

Wed Jul 21, 2004 00:35

The patton report said that local bodies would be set up in local areas where the police and the local politicans could resolve local issues. Sin feinn has refused to join these bodies, therefore, they are obstructing the implementation of Patton! How can you be in favour of something and obstruct it at the same time?

Well???

by rooster

Tue Jul 27, 2004 15:41

unarmed Sein Fein crowd marshalling

by cath

Mon Sep 13, 2004 01:05

are these the same people that encourage residents to come out of their houses to be offended?

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SDLP policing confusion coming to a head

Comments (9 of 9)