Public disorder will solve nothing

I had very much hoped that I would not be blogging about public disorder six days after the 12th July.

The role of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in policing sensitive parades is not to question or query the determinations of the Parades Commission but to uphold the rule of law, and to police the determinations proportionately and resolutely.  Thankfully the severity of the disorder has reduced but every night since the 12th your Police Service, supported by colleagues who have joined us under mutual aid, have been faced with disorder to some degree. 

Seventy one police officers have been injured, 3 of whom are from GB.  Attacks on police officers are totally unacceptable and I thank those, from all quarters, who have publicly condemned these.   Each of these attacks has a human cost to the officers and to their families and colleagues.  A range of missiles, including blast bombs and 120 petrol bombs, have been used against police.  We have arrested sixty eight people and I was appalled to be told that amongst these were a 12 and a 13 year old child - I appeal to parents to be responsible and know where their children are at all times, in particular late at night and during periods of disorder.

The courage and professionalism of the officers who have been engaged on the front line has been outstanding.  There are those who have criticised the police tactics and in such cases where people feel a genuine sense of grievance, I would encourage them to report their complaint to the Police Ombudsman.   However when people are stripping walls of coping stones, climbing onto landrovers and attempting to thrown these down onto the top of police officers it is entirely reasonable to take proportionate steps to protect life.   Police officers have human rights too.   You may have seen the police equipment we put on display to the media a few days ago which showed the damage to police helmets and shields.

I want to pay particular tribute to our GB colleagues who have assisted us under mutual aid arrangements.  I have personally spoken , as has the Chief Constable, to many of them over the past week.  They have in some respect been making history as they are the first ever deployment of mutual aid to Northern Ireland, apart from G8. They have worked alongside PSNI colleagues and their contribution has been outstanding.  Ironically this is the first time many of them have been in Northern Ireland and the number who have said that, apart from the disorder,  they have enjoyed a warm  and sincere welcome and  that they have been amazed by the beautiful countryside  to the extent that they intend to come back and visit at some stage in the future.

Over the next few days, and in the run up to Saturday, I very much hope that tensions will reduce and that those of influence will re-double their efforts to ensure that the public disorder ends .  I thank all those involved in working to reduce tensions in sensitive areas.  This will help ensure that your police officers can return to their normal duties and concentrate on those issues which matter most to communities.

Public disorder will solve nothing and only serves to divide communities even further.  We have all worked far too hard to allow this to happen.