One of the benefits of being the Deputy Chief Constable is that no day is ever really the same, and Saturday was certainly no exception.
I had been invited in the morning to attend Croke Park in Dublin to address the Gaelic Athletic Association, National Officer Development Day. At the outset I took the opportunity to pay tribute to my colleague from An Garda Síochána, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who had been so brutally murdered just a few hours earlier. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and our colleagues at this very difficult time. The relationship between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána is probably like no other, between two police services and we are doing everything possible to support the investigation to bring his murderers to justice.
This is the second time I have spoken at Croke Park in the past few months and the symbolism of a senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officer addressing a gathering at this historically symbolic venue is not lost on me. I had been asked to speak about the PSNI change process and I spoke frankly about our experiences 'warts and all'.
As I returned from Dublin, I visited the Silver Room for 'D' District (Antrim, Lisburn, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey) located in Lisburn Station and met with the District Commander, Chief Superintendent Henry Irvine and a number of the officers and staff on duty. I received a briefing on the minor disorder of the previous night in Newtownabbey.
I then visited a local sporting venue where the Services Netball Team were playing the Greater Manchester police. I wanted to speak with our colleagues from Greater Manchester to thank them for coming over despite the very negative publicity Northern Ireland has been receiving nationally and internationally. They all agreed that despite some reservations about travelling over that they were very glad they came and were overwhelmed by the warmth of the local welcome.
I finished my day by calling in on a Multi Cultural event in Dunmurry being run in partnership by Dunmurry Community Association, Greater Dunmurry Positive Relations Partnership and the local Presbyterian Church at Glebe Road. In some way this event was quite refreshing, given recent events - a gathering of people from a number of ethnic and faith backgrounds, local and some not so, meeting together despite their differences to have an afternoon of fun, food and music. I also had the opportunity to try my hand at the 'Chenda' drums, a traditional Indian musical instrument. Two of these drums had been presented to the Indian Malayali Association earlier in the afternoon and I was delighted that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had been able to help purchase these from a Diversity in Action Award bursary received by the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Whilst it is somewhat frustrating to be back at my desk again this morning and spending time, yet again, talking to senior colleagues about flag protests, the events of the weekend at least give me a sense of hope that community policing is progressing and that officers are out there doing their very best to deliver personal, professional and protective policing in extremely difficult circumstances.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Monday, 21 January 2013
Getting ready to welcome World Police and Fire Games
Despite all of our current challenges, the momentum is really building for this year’s World Police and Fire Games in August, now less than 200 days away.
This promises to be the biggest and most exciting sporting event which Northern Ireland will ever experience. We are expecting around 10,000 competitors, accompanied by 15,000 family and friends, taking part in 57 sporting events across 42 venues. I want for a moment to speak to my international followers, some of whom may be having second thoughts as a result of watching some of the media pictures of the recent protests and disorder associated with the removal of the Union Flag from Belfast City Hall.
Already we have 1,859 competitors registered, many of whom are team captains, and when you take into account their team colleagues this would bring the numbers up to about 3,500. Over £2m has been generated already with hotel bookings, over 6,400 volunteers have enlisted to help and we are currently going through a selection and training process to ensure that they can support us in making this the very best and friendliest games ever.
I want to reassure you that the majority of recent protests have been entirely peaceful and any disorder has been isolated to a number of very small areas, mainly in one particular area of East Belfast. The vast majority of areas across Northern Ireland have been totally unaffected. In fact you could be in Belfast City Centre and be totally oblivious that there had been any trouble at all. There has also been some disruption to traffic but this has been largely dealt with by the Police.
Last week, we hosted a visit of World Police and Fire Games competitors from Canada, USA, Spain, Germany and England and when I met with them, each of the visitors said that they had been overwhelmed by the warm welcome they have received. Several said specifically they had such an amazing time visiting some our tourist attractions that they plan to bring their families with them in August. Our visitors saw first hand everything that Northern Ireland has to offer and all of them said that they would absolutely be coming to Belfast in August, with many planning to stay longer to experience everything that Ireland, both North and South, has to offer. You can see a short video of some of their comments at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA4xJZyF6Tc
To keep up to date with all the very latest developments I would encourage you to visit the website at www.2013wpfg.com or follow WPFG on Facebook or twitter - at www.facebook.com/2013wpfg and www.twitter.com/2013wpfg
Northern Ireland is a very safe place. In fact, overall crime levels are at their lowest level for many years and the Police Service will always put public safety first. We have worked and will continue to work closely with local communities to minimise any disorder and disruption, and to ensure appropriate resources are in place to keep people safe. Over the weekend I am pleased to say that those few protests which did take place were peaceful.
Our aim is to deliver the friendliest Games ever and we remain very confident that we will do so. We look forward to August so that we can welcome thousands of visitors from across the world so they can experience the kind of warm welcome that Northern Ireland is famous for.
This promises to be the biggest and most exciting sporting event which Northern Ireland will ever experience. We are expecting around 10,000 competitors, accompanied by 15,000 family and friends, taking part in 57 sporting events across 42 venues. I want for a moment to speak to my international followers, some of whom may be having second thoughts as a result of watching some of the media pictures of the recent protests and disorder associated with the removal of the Union Flag from Belfast City Hall.
Already we have 1,859 competitors registered, many of whom are team captains, and when you take into account their team colleagues this would bring the numbers up to about 3,500. Over £2m has been generated already with hotel bookings, over 6,400 volunteers have enlisted to help and we are currently going through a selection and training process to ensure that they can support us in making this the very best and friendliest games ever.
I want to reassure you that the majority of recent protests have been entirely peaceful and any disorder has been isolated to a number of very small areas, mainly in one particular area of East Belfast. The vast majority of areas across Northern Ireland have been totally unaffected. In fact you could be in Belfast City Centre and be totally oblivious that there had been any trouble at all. There has also been some disruption to traffic but this has been largely dealt with by the Police.
Last week, we hosted a visit of World Police and Fire Games competitors from Canada, USA, Spain, Germany and England and when I met with them, each of the visitors said that they had been overwhelmed by the warm welcome they have received. Several said specifically they had such an amazing time visiting some our tourist attractions that they plan to bring their families with them in August. Our visitors saw first hand everything that Northern Ireland has to offer and all of them said that they would absolutely be coming to Belfast in August, with many planning to stay longer to experience everything that Ireland, both North and South, has to offer. You can see a short video of some of their comments at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA4xJZyF6Tc
To keep up to date with all the very latest developments I would encourage you to visit the website at www.2013wpfg.com or follow WPFG on Facebook or twitter - at www.facebook.com/2013wpfg and www.twitter.com/2013wpfg
Northern Ireland is a very safe place. In fact, overall crime levels are at their lowest level for many years and the Police Service will always put public safety first. We have worked and will continue to work closely with local communities to minimise any disorder and disruption, and to ensure appropriate resources are in place to keep people safe. Over the weekend I am pleased to say that those few protests which did take place were peaceful.
Our aim is to deliver the friendliest Games ever and we remain very confident that we will do so. We look forward to August so that we can welcome thousands of visitors from across the world so they can experience the kind of warm welcome that Northern Ireland is famous for.
Monday, 14 January 2013
Violence is not and will not be the answer
It’s hard to get away from talking about the ongoing protests and public disorder. To be honest it’s quite depressing to be still having to blog about this matter 40 + days after it all began.
I had hoped that common sense would prevail and that somehow those who disagree with the decision about the Union Flag would have found some other way to deal with their anger and frustration. I am appalled that almost 100 police officers have been injured, millions of pounds of the policing budget diverted, which could have been used for more positive things, thousands of pounds of damage caused to homes, property and police equipment, and communities wrecked, to say nothing of the potential to damage many years of community reconciliation which people have worked so hard to develop.
The damage internationally will have a long legacy. We have already heard stories of almost empty planes landing at our airports, the very significant financial loss to our retail, food and hospitality industry and even if the protests were to end tomorrow it will take some months to recover from the economic impact. No doubt much needed jobs will be lost. We are getting queries from people who are thinking twice about coming to Northern Ireland for major events such as the World Police and Fire Games, an event which can potentially bring up to 25,000 people to Northern Ireland and millions of pounds to the economy.
Over the weekend you saw the images of police officers intervening as Northern Ireland's deep seated, raw sectarianism was evidenced on the Albert Bridge Road. I saw images on the news of children, one small boy I would say was no older than about 11, joining in with older youths to throw masonry at police officers. Many will rightly ask about parental control in that situation. To date 112 people, many of them young, have been arrested with 85 charged with offences. Their choice to become involved in street disorder may well have an impact much longer after the protests have finished. Given the choice - and it is a choice - no-one wants this future for our young people.
I appeal, in fact I plead, that everyone whether an elected representative, community worker, parent, person of influence or individual who cares about the future of our young people does everything they can to stop this ongoing situation. Find another way to voice your anger rather than engaging in street protest. And if you feel you must protest, do it legally and peacefully, notifying the appropriate authorities in advance. It’s still not too late to find another way to try to resolve this issue. Violence is not and will not be the answer. If our troubled past has taught us nothing, it has surely taught us this.
I had hoped that common sense would prevail and that somehow those who disagree with the decision about the Union Flag would have found some other way to deal with their anger and frustration. I am appalled that almost 100 police officers have been injured, millions of pounds of the policing budget diverted, which could have been used for more positive things, thousands of pounds of damage caused to homes, property and police equipment, and communities wrecked, to say nothing of the potential to damage many years of community reconciliation which people have worked so hard to develop.
The damage internationally will have a long legacy. We have already heard stories of almost empty planes landing at our airports, the very significant financial loss to our retail, food and hospitality industry and even if the protests were to end tomorrow it will take some months to recover from the economic impact. No doubt much needed jobs will be lost. We are getting queries from people who are thinking twice about coming to Northern Ireland for major events such as the World Police and Fire Games, an event which can potentially bring up to 25,000 people to Northern Ireland and millions of pounds to the economy.
Over the weekend you saw the images of police officers intervening as Northern Ireland's deep seated, raw sectarianism was evidenced on the Albert Bridge Road. I saw images on the news of children, one small boy I would say was no older than about 11, joining in with older youths to throw masonry at police officers. Many will rightly ask about parental control in that situation. To date 112 people, many of them young, have been arrested with 85 charged with offences. Their choice to become involved in street disorder may well have an impact much longer after the protests have finished. Given the choice - and it is a choice - no-one wants this future for our young people.
I appeal, in fact I plead, that everyone whether an elected representative, community worker, parent, person of influence or individual who cares about the future of our young people does everything they can to stop this ongoing situation. Find another way to voice your anger rather than engaging in street protest. And if you feel you must protest, do it legally and peacefully, notifying the appropriate authorities in advance. It’s still not too late to find another way to try to resolve this issue. Violence is not and will not be the answer. If our troubled past has taught us nothing, it has surely taught us this.
Friday, 4 January 2013
Welcoming the New Year with continued safety
I welcome the fact that the number of people dying on our roads is at the lowest level since records began in 1931. Since this date a total of 14,570 people have lost their lives on Northern Ireland's roads.
Last year 48 deaths were recorded, but this is still far too many. This is almost one death per week and 48 families who grieve over the loss of a loved one is 48 families too many. Tragically, these figures include five children who died, an increase from two last year.
Despite the very many challenges your Police Service faces, the reduction shows that we will not be distracted from working together with our partner agencies to increase education and undertake enforcement to continue to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The sad reality is that many of these deaths could have been avoided. Inattention including the use of mobile phones whilst driving, speed and alcohol continue to be significant factors which are the cause of serious collisions, and it is very disappointing that whilst the message of drinking and driving is getting through, in the run up to Christmas we still detected over 130 motorists who were unfit to drive.
The requirement to deploy significant numbers of police officers to deal with the ongoing flag protests can serve to distract us from other important areas of policing, such as the prevention of road deaths and indeed the prevention and detection of really serious crimes such as the murder of Jason McGovern and the attempted murder of a police colleague and his close family earlier this week.
Our resources are not infinite and we will continue to do everything possible to ensure that we prioritise police officers and staff into those areas which require them the most, but at the same time try to ensure that other important areas do not suffer. There is no policing solution to the ongoing flag protests. The Police Service will continue to do everything we can, while those with influence must renew their efforts to find a peaceful solution to community concerns.
Last year 48 deaths were recorded, but this is still far too many. This is almost one death per week and 48 families who grieve over the loss of a loved one is 48 families too many. Tragically, these figures include five children who died, an increase from two last year.
Despite the very many challenges your Police Service faces, the reduction shows that we will not be distracted from working together with our partner agencies to increase education and undertake enforcement to continue to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The sad reality is that many of these deaths could have been avoided. Inattention including the use of mobile phones whilst driving, speed and alcohol continue to be significant factors which are the cause of serious collisions, and it is very disappointing that whilst the message of drinking and driving is getting through, in the run up to Christmas we still detected over 130 motorists who were unfit to drive.
The requirement to deploy significant numbers of police officers to deal with the ongoing flag protests can serve to distract us from other important areas of policing, such as the prevention of road deaths and indeed the prevention and detection of really serious crimes such as the murder of Jason McGovern and the attempted murder of a police colleague and his close family earlier this week.
Our resources are not infinite and we will continue to do everything possible to ensure that we prioritise police officers and staff into those areas which require them the most, but at the same time try to ensure that other important areas do not suffer. There is no policing solution to the ongoing flag protests. The Police Service will continue to do everything we can, while those with influence must renew their efforts to find a peaceful solution to community concerns.
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