Ulster policing praised at ground-breaking meeting
Policing in Northern Ireland has changed more in the last 18 months than in the previous 80 years, it was claimed today.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan told a conference in south Belfast, attended by Chief Constable Hugh Orde, that the force now had a new name, flag, badge and cross-community policing board to hold it to account.
The groundbreaking meeting was the first organised by a nationalist political party to be addressed by Northern Ireland’s top police officer.
Mr Durkan said the changes, which also included a new human rights code of ethics, marked positive steps.
“None of this would have happened if the SDLP had followed the lead of others and decided to stay off the Policing Board,” he said.
“Just imagine what would have happened if instead we had followed their lead. The old RUC still there. The toothless Police Authority still there. Hugh Orde not there.
“Nuala O’Loan’s Omagh report would have been binned and Patten’s implementation would have been shelved. The SDLP could not have allowed that to happen. Unlike others, we have never aided and abetted those opposed to change.”
Mr Durkan said the Policing Board had succeeded in a number of the most difficult areas, including holding Special Branch to account.
“For decades, Special Branch has been not just the force within a force, but the force above a force – directing and controlling all around it,” he said.
“Last November the Policing Board brought that era to an end. They agreed to dismantle the old Special Branch and institute reforms which in the words of Oversight Commissioner American Tom Constantine met the ’best practice requirements of any police service in the world".
“The record of the Board speaks for itself. It has been the driver of Patten’s implementation. That is why there is a duty on all those who support Patten to get on the Board and work with the rest of us to ensure its delivery.”
Mr Durkan said the pace of change in policing in Northern Ireland must continue unabated in the future.
“A crackdown on loyalists has at last started. It must not stop until loyalist paramilitarism is finished,” he said.
“We cannot allow any paramilitaries to seize control in our communities with a pipe bomb in one hand and drugs in the other.
“We have made great strides towards a police service that is accountable and acceptable. But we have yet to create one that is accessible. We must move to create a routinely unarmed police service from unfortified police stations.”
He said policing must be made accountable across the North.
“Local police must account to local people in Bellaghy, Belleek and the Bogside,” he said.
“This month sees the launch of the District Policing Partnerships. The SDLP will be working on them to ensure that the police service in every locality accounts to local people and responds to local needs.”
