PSNI on Normalisation Offensive
Over the past number of weeks, following the aggression of the PSNI at Sean Graham bookmakers in South Belfast and their engagement with the UVF in East Belfast, the PSNI have been on the charm offensive in working class republican areas in Belfast.
A number of residents have been in contact with Lasair Dhearg with concerns of heightened PSNI daylight patrols in the Lenadoon and Twinbrook areas.
Speaking from Belfast, Lasair Dhearg spokesperson Pól Torbóid said that “these patrols are designed to try and win support for the PSNI in areas where they are clearly not welcome, and never will be. They are a public relations exercise by the PSNI, designed to put a friendly face to the force. Often accompanied by the PSNI’s proxies in local ‘community safety’ teams, they are designed to create the perception of policing in a normal society, all the while heavily armoured vehicles patrol the district with armed personnel, allowing the PR exercise to take place and make its way back to its heavily fortified barracks.
“It was less than two weeks ago that political activists, including myself, were stopped and searched by PSNI gunmen outside Woodbourne barracks for our part in recording a short film documenting the unchanged nature of political policing in Ireland.”
It has also been brought to the attention of Lasair Dhearg that the PSNI are seeking to use local youth provision as a means to win hearts and minds among our young people. The Education Authority are seeking local youth providers to engage with the PSNI through the ‘Feet On The Street’ project.
A communication from the EA states that youth providers should “work to support a culture of lawfulness and work with the PSNI throughout”. That youth teams should “engage with the PSNI and operational partners” and to contact the PSNI duty phone at the start of each session. Youth workers will be expected to record any issues and report concerns directly with the PSNI and the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships.
The attempted use of youth provision as proxies for the PSNI is scandalous and is a clear conflict of interest for any credible youth worker. Lasair Dhearg will continue to highlight and challenge the PSNIs normalisation strategy at every opportunity.
