Political policing is not a ‘legacy issue’

Posted by Jim on September 13, 2015

By GARC (Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective)

In recent weeks GARC have publicised findings from a Freedom of
Information request that demonstrated the daily reality of PSNI
political policing in the Ardoyne and Marrowbone areas. This FoI showed
that there have been 4597 Stop and Searches, 262 raids, 144 arrests, 23
charges and yet only TWO arrests from Jan 2009-Jan 2015.

In light of these findings, GARC sent letters to five local community
organisations, asking to discuss them and to ascertain their current
position regarding promoting and endorsing the PSNI. To date only the
Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoil have responded, stating that they do not support
or endorse the PSNI, nor do they apply or receive any funding from them.

Sinn Fein then engaged in attacks on GARC, via MLA and West Belfast
resident Gerry Kelly, supported by Father Gary Donegan. He defended the
PSNI in a letter delivered to local residents. He defended the rights of
community organisations to promote the PSNI amongst our young people. He
has previously defended the use of child informers by the PSNI. In
supporting Kelly, Fr Donegan stated that GARC (people that live here)
had “no right” to an opinion.

Kelly’s comments came as no surprise, given that in Derry just a few
short weeks ago Declan Kearney, National Chairperson of Sinn Fein,
stated that “the PSNI is not involved in political policing”. In recent
days elected reps in Downpatrick told local people it was wrong to
criticise PSNI officers that allowed anti-socials to run amok as they
sat and watched. In South Armagh a local Sinn Fein representative this
week cried publicly that the PSNI were being withdrawn from the area.
Last month, Martin McGuinness said political policing was a “legacy
issue” and a thing of the past at Feile an Phobail.

This morning, leading Sinn Fein member Bobby Storey has been arrested by
detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch and taken to Antrim
Detention Centre. No doubt this will be met with cries of “political
policing” from the same party that for some time now has been demonising
anyone in Republican Communities opposed to the PSNI and their campaign
of harassment and intimidation. We will hear cries of “attacks on the
peace process” from Sinn Fein, directed at the same armed militia that
they want introduced into local youth clubs. We may even hear mention of
the “dark side” to policing, when in areas like Ardoyne there is no
bright side.

Perhaps now, grassroots members of Sinn Fein who delivered literature to
counter a message opposing the PSNI and their political policing (and
are forced to defend a party position that in many cases they don’t
actually agree with) will realise just how duplicitous their leadership
is.

Local Republicans and residents’ groups analysis of the PSNI, MI5 and
repressive state apparatus and legislation (such as RIPA) is the correct
one. Essentially that there is no accountability and that acceptability
in communities is unrealistic while any police force exists to
perpetuate the inherent injustices of continuing partition and
occupation.