Members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board today received an update from the PSNI Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable on the ongoing policing operation following the attack on Stephen Ogilvie and subsequent violence across Northern Ireland.
Speaking about the briefing, Policing Board Chair Brendan Mullan said:
The Chief Constable provided Board Members with an operational update on policing plans, operational activity and tactics over the course of the last few days.
Board Members restated their condemnation of the unacceptable violence and destruction directed at innocent people, the targeting of properties, businesses, public services and the intimidation of those working in healthcare and other sectors.
Thanks were placed to all the officers and staff of the PSNI and emergency service colleagues who have been working over the last number days to keep people safe in challenging circumstances, and thoughts are particularly with all the officers who have been injured.
Discussions covered the capability and capacity of the service to respond to this critical incident and dealing with the demands faced. It is welcome that from today 200 mutual aid officers will provide the PSNI with additional resilience, capacity and visibility in the community.
The Chief Constable also set out police reassurance and protective measures for those concerned for safety, engagement work and the support being given to the police by partner agencies, including the work of the Civil Contingency Multi-Agency Structures. The openness and transparency in public information provided by the police to date was acknowledged by Board Members and the importance of this in communications going forward.
The Chief Constable was asked for assessment around the organisation of the violence and confirmed that there was no information to suggest paramilitary orchestration. But he was clear if that assessment changed he would call it out.
Members welcomed the Chief Constable’s assurance that all those who have engaged in violence will face a robust criminal justice response by the PSNI, including those inciting violence online and anyone with information is urged to report it to the police or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
As a Board we thank all those who continue to support and work with the police to quell community tension.
Ends