Everyone has a part to play

The events of the past week have shown, yet again, how fragile cross community relations can be.

The disorder in East Belfast was totally unacceptable and I can only imagine what it must have felt like for those people who were caught up in the middle and had their homes or property damaged. No matter what sparked this violence there is absolutely no excuse for it. Once again your Police Service was thrust into a situation not of its making, caught in the middle of two groups of people intent on causing harm and damage to the other.

All too often community leaders are criticised for not stepping up to the mark but I know how much effort, night and day, was put in to trying to restore some form of normality. I applaud everyone who worked together to achieve this. But tensions will remain high over the next few weeks and I encourage everyone of influence, elected and community leaders, to continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those intent on causing trouble do not achieve their ambition.

The Police Service does not want to divert resources away from local communities to police or prevent public disorder. Nor does it wish to spend money which could be better used supporting longer term initiatives to protect local communities and deal with the things which really matter to you.

We will not shy away from our responsibilities and we will seek to police impartially, proportionately and professionally, but you must support us and do everything you possibly can to ensure that tension is reduced and that those who want to cause trouble understand very clearly that they are not welcome.

Whether you’re a parent, a partner, a community or political leader, a person of influence in the community or a local resident please do not underestimate your ability to influence the thinking and actions of others.

This is a time for cool heads and for reflecting on the impact of what we say and do. Everyone has a part to play in reducing tensions and in contributing to longer term peace building in our society - a society which has come so far and deserves so much better than the events of last week.