A day to Remember

Last Sunday I was privileged to join police colleagues from across the United Kingdom and representatives from An Garda Síochána, for the National Police Memorial Day at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

The annual service is held on the nearest Sunday to the 29th September to coincide with Saint Michael's day, the patron Saint of Police Officers and rotates around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

National Police Memorial Day was established in 2004 to remember police officers who have been killed or who have died on duty, to demonstrate to relatives, friends and colleagues of fallen officers, that their sacrifice is not forgotten and to recognise the dedication to duty and courage displayed by police officers.

Last year there were eight police officers who were died on duty. Six of the officers, two from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Constable Gary Grieves (46) and Constable Gareth Gallagher (22), three from the London Metropolitan Police Service, D/Sergeant Iain McLay (42), Constable Sean McColgan (37) and Constable Daniel Gibb (25) and one for Wiltshire Constable Michael Johnson (46), died whilst making their way to or from duty.

Constable Daniel Cooper (22), Wiltshire Police, died in a road traffic collision whilst responding to a call for assistance from colleagues and most of us will remember the tragic death of Constable William Barker (44) who was swept off a bridge in Cumbria during the floods of last November.

It was a very emotional service with thousands of people from various forces and counties, public representatives, colleagues, family members and friends, standing side by side to remember and honour those who have given their lives in the service of others.

Policing by its very nature is a dangerous occupation. Every day, across the United Kingdom, police officers put themselves in harm's way to protect the communities whom they serve from serious harm.

No Police Service understands this more so than the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the past, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland at present.

Police officers walk towards danger when others run away. Over the years police officers here, through their quick thinking, resourcefulness, and administration of first aid have saved the lives of many ordinary people from burning homes, frozen lakes and canals, heavy seas, mountains and snow, whilst putting their own lives at risk.

Only last week a local councillor, in West Belfast referred to police officers who attempted to save a man from his burning home as ‘heroes’. The officers suffered smoke inhalation as result of their attempt to rescue the man.

The police service is often referred to as a ‘family’ and there is no doubt that there is a unique bond between police officers and their families, regardless of where they serve.

The public owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women, officers and staff, who work tirelessly, in very difficult circumstances to deliver policing across the United Kingdom.

The challenge to us all is to never forget that sacrifice. As the act of remembrance says “We will remember them”.

No compromise on the things that matter most

There is absolutely no doubt, as the Government undertakes its’ spending review, that the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be asked to make efficiencies just the same as every other Police Service across the United Kingdom.

In some respects, the PSNI is ahead of the game. In response to the findings of our own Strategic Review, we have critically examined how we do our business to identify how we can use our people and resources to best effect.

The concept of efficiency and effectiveness is very clearly enshrined in one of our Chief Constable’s five strategic principles: ‘Resources and time focused upon genuine operational delivery. Ensuring we have the right people in the right place to prevent harm, protect from danger and inspire confidence.’

We have already delivered over 400 additional police officers to frontline policing and we are determined to identify more ways to reduce bureaucracy, push for further criminal justice reforms and ensure that our officers are more visible, in more places, for much longer, and are focussed on the things that matter most to local communities.

We are a unique police service, policing a unique environment. This makes us all the more determined to continue to influence Government, locally and nationally, to secure an appropriate level of funding which will allow us to meet the increased threat from terrorists head on, and to deprive them of the opportunities to murder, wreck and maim that they seek.

We will do our absolute best to deliver on the agreed targets in our Policing Plan, and to ensure that there is no policing vacuum that others will seek to fill.

Later this year we will expand on those targets to develop a series of Policing with the Community commitments. Once completed, we will deliver information about the commitments to every household in Northern Ireland. These commitments are simply about 'delivering the basics well' in areas that are important, such as, keeping people informed, visibility and accessibility. A mechanism to ensure that we deliver a personal, professional and protective policing service.

Regardless of what financial pressures come our way, we will not compromise on those things that matter most. We will continue to tackle serious harm, whatever form that might take, we will continue to work with other agencies to help protect the most vulnerable in our communities and we will seek to provide the personal Police Service that we all want and deserve.

We can make a difference but only if you continue to give us your complete and active support.

Indiscriminate attack on primary school disgusting and difficult to comprehend

Yesterday morning’s completely indiscriminate attack on the primary school children of St Comgall’s in Antrim as they arrived for another week absolutely disgusted me.

B e under no illusions, this was a real device carefully put together for one reason - to kill or seriously injure whoever happened to be in close proximity at that time.

There is no such thing as a responsible bomb, but the recklessness of someone prepared to place a bomb at a primary school where it could be picked up by an eight year old child and carried into the school is difficult to comprehend.

The vast majority of people had hoped that with the very significant progress which had been achieved towards a shared future in recent years, such acts of blatant sectarianism could be confined to the past.

Sadly there are still those within our communities, who no doubt have eight year old family members themselves’, who for whatever reason cannot contemplate the concept of mutual respect and understanding. This type of attack makes it difficult to imagine what their vision of the future is for their children.

It is unreasonable to expect the Police Service alone to deal with the cancer of deep seated hatred which obviously still exists within our community. We rightly deal with the symptoms of the problem but the cause requires everyone’s efforts. Northern Ireland is moving on.

What we need now is a real concerted effort to ensure we continue to move in the right direction. Condemnation of such attacks is welcome, but even more welcome is consistent action, from communities and community leaders, to isolate those who put the lives and the future of children - of all our children - at risk. Such action will ensure we really do move on.

As a police officer, and a parent, I share the collective responsibility to do everything I can to encourage tolerance and understanding of those who don’t necessarily share the same opinions or views as I do. We must all continue to work together to promote understanding and tolerance.

Together I believe we can make a difference and isolate those within our communities who clearly have a different agenda.