Current Issues - 2006

December 2006

The Federation Looks to the Future - PoliceBeat Editorial

Policing is very firmly the stumbling block on the road to devolved government for Northern Ireland. Universal acceptance of the rule of law is no longer an issue which can be parked while other, less contentious matters can be agreed. Yet there can be no moral, logical or sustainable basis for a government of coalition partners unless each of them supports fully not only the rule of law but the public delivery agencies of the police and the justice systems.

There can be no lip service accepted for support of the police. The business community may think it needs at least £50 billion to secure an enduring peace. The reality is that it will be evidence of hearts and minds being fully behind the police which will offer the best prospect of enduring success.

The Federation, as much as any organisation, has suffered brutal loss over the past 35 years, of members murdered or maimed and families left with a permanent price to pay for serving the community.

But we too believe that despite the hurt there is more to be gained from Sinn Fein joining the Government and taking their place in all the institutions of civic society and especially the Policing Board. Just as our police service seeks to reflect the composition of the wider community in order to deliver a better service, so it makes sense that a devolved administration, bespoke as it is to Northern Ireland, should also embrace all political parties in proportion to their electoral mandate.

Despite the current political shambles, the St Andrews Agreement could not be clearer ...It states all Ministers will ‘uphold the rule of law based as it is on the fundamental principles of fairness, impartiality and democratic accountability, including support for policing and courts as set out in paragraph 6 of the St Andrews Agreement.’

Specifically paragraph 6 says ...’the essential elements of support for law and order include endorsing fully the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the criminal justice system, actively encouraging everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the PSNI in tackling crime in all areas and actively supporting all the policing and criminal justice institutions, including the Policing Board.

If Sinn Fein take their place in Government this Federation will want to meet them – not to talk about the past – but to talk about a shared policing future and to help Sinn Fein create a climate of respect for law and order and for police officers which allows the community unfettered access to justice in every part of Northern Ireland.