Homecoming parade PSNI bill to top €372k
The security operation mounted for the military homecoming parade in Belfast cost more than £300,000 (€372,000), police revealed today.
The parade and the republican protests against it were over within minutes, but Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Hugh Orde said it required significant police resources.
In advance of the event last Sunday there had been fears of violence, but Mr Orde said police worked closely with community leaders to ensure tensions did not boil over.
The PSNI chief was giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster and while the discussion focused on police co-operation with the Gardaí, he revealed details of the weekend security operation.
“From a policing perspective it was a massive effort,” said Mr Orde.
“Obviously the Parades Commission made determinations, which I think is in terms of best practice, a good way of dealing with these issues, where you have competing rights.”
Sinn Féin had staged a march and protest against the parade, while there were also fears demonstrations by dissident republicans and loyalists might spark trouble.
In the end police contained loyalists who attempted to move towards Sinn Féin lines, while stewards on both sides helped ensure there was no major violence.
Mr Orde said: “Huge effort by senior police officers and junior police officers before the event to network, communicate and discuss with many key community players, who actually deserve equal praise on this, led to an awful lot of agreement and mutual understanding.”
He added: “We had a plan where we thought there would be no surprises and that plan came off.
“It could have gone in either direction in my judgement. It was clearly an emotive issue for both sides.
“Common-sense prevailed on the day and a very sound professional policing operation led to a successful conclusion.”
On the issue of the cost of the operation, he said: “Because of the sensitivity of it and the fact that we could not have or allow serious disorder to take place, it was a hugely expensive policing operation.
“I will be at the Policing Board (in Northern Ireland) tomorrow morning where I will have a cost, but I would estimate it was well in excess of £300,000 which I could have spent on routine community policing had we had a situation that was less tense.”
