Durkan: Serious issues in policing exposed

SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan has said that the past month has exposed serious issues and failings in policing that must be addressed urgently to prevent the steady ebb of confidence from the PSNI.

Said the Foyle MLA: “Today will again be a difficult day for the families of those murdered in Sean Grahams Bookmakers on the Ormeau Road.

“Their dignified commemoration of their loved ones was cruelly interrupted in 2021 and, through no desire of their own, they were placed at the centre of a policing dispute which has threatened to undermine support for the PSNI and its leadership from every direction.

“This incident raised serious questions about operational policing, adequate briefing to officers on duty and other related matters.

“The SDLP raised these issues at the time, did so publicly and in contact with the leadership of the PSNI.

“We were forthright at all times, offered solutions but did not threaten to collapse Policing.

“It is totally right that political parties speak to the PSNI leadership about critical incidents, forcefully when necessary, but always with a view to securing the best policing outcomes.

“There is a serious problem, however, when the line is crossed into political interference which poisoned policing here for decades.

“Whether it’s political unionism or Sinn Féin, no one can exercise coercive control over the institutions of policing.

“People should be under no illusion – it is a very bad day when the High Court declares that the PSNI leadership made decisions in the belief that if the “status” of individual officers was not dealt with Sinn Féin would walk off the Policing Board.

“This is not the new beginning to policing that people were promised. Both the Chief Constable and Sinn Féin have important questions to answer.

“Serious issues have now been exposed. Confidence continues to ebb away from policing.

“The Chief Constable, the Policing Board and all of us with an interest in securing the new beginning to policing must act urgently to address this situation.

“Over the last fortnight I have said that there needs to be both organisational and personal accountability for significant issues in the PSNI.

“The SDLP believes that there will be a time when there must be personal accountability for these failure,” added Mr Durkan.

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