Paramilitaries fill PSNI 'vacuum' - Report

Published Tuesday, 08 February 2011

PSNI inertia in the delivery of effective, community-based services in loyalist and republican areas has created a policing vacuum being filled by paramilitary activity, a new report warns.

University of Ulster criminologists carried out 95 interviews between November 2007 and November 2009, as part of their study.

Sixty of these were drawn from loyalist and republican communities. The remaining 35 were drawn from PSNI officers serving within those areas.

Dr John Topping, a lecturer in criminology who helped compile the paper, said PSNI inertia had created a space "in which the ever-present undercurrent of paramilitarism has flourished".

He said evidence showed the policing experience promised by the PSNI in the post-Patten period failed to meet community expectations and/or failed to address community fears about crime and anti-social behaviour

"This has resulted in a growing acceptance of paramilitary policing where there is a clear policing vacuum, with paramilitaries as entrepreneurs seeking to exploit the gaps," Dr Topping explained.

One loyalist told Dr Topping: "I would say every area is the same

"Every area has got a paramilitary influence and the politicians, the bosses in the PSNI are burying their heads.

"I live in a loyalist working class area and policing hasn't changed one bit and, if anything, it has got worse.

"So if anyone says the peace process done anything, we say no.

"This paramilitary influence has been brushed under the carpet by the politicians and the police don't deal with it and it's business as usual.

"In some areas, even being seen talking to the police is still considered informing."

One republican told researchers: "There's a palate out there for paramilitary justice because people are getting so frustrated at the lack of state policing".

Dr Topping said the study indicated changing the hearts and minds of communities regarding the paramilitary 'option' had been underestimated by both the PSNI and politicians, in terms of the need for more effective frontline policing.

The research study also found that the effectiveness of the Public Prosecution Service and the legacy of the Troubles impacted on a lack of willingness by the loyalist and republican community to engage with the PSNI.

'One-dimensional report'

The PSNI said the report took a one-dimensional approach to a very complex subject.

In a statement they said:

"The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to delivering a personal, professional and protective policing service to the whole community.

"We know our work is having a positive effect on the community."

They said an increasing number of people support policing in the region.

"In fact the results from NISRA's Omnibus Survey in December showed that 80% of people now have confidence in the ability of the Police Service to deliver a day-to-day policing service for everyone in Northern Ireland.

"More and more people support us and want to see police on patrol in their area.

"The issue of paramilitarism and paramilitary-style attacks is clearly a policing issue, but not one that policing can deliver a solution to in isolation.

"Whilst we play a key role in tackling this type of criminal activity it should be recognised that there are also key responsibilities that involve community and political leaders."

Comments

10 Comments

tomc in Belfast wrote (468 days ago):

Oldsod - you hit the nail on the head! Police officers are all too willing to do the job but have been weakened by the beurocrats in the justice system. I mean think about it - there is a constant threat to kill Police yet they are told by commanding officers to wear name badges and hi visability coats! Here I am and who I am, just look me up later! The Ombudsman investigates every single whinge put forward as a complaint which makes officers more worried about watching their back than enough. They are thin on the ground, gone are the days of landrovers full of Police, travelling in 2's, now you more expect to see 2 officers in 1 car covering a vast area - in some areas they trialled single officer patrols! Combine this with legislation that's weak with offenders and requires a ream of paper or keyboard tapping to get anywhere and the result is simple. If people want wee jonny to get a cuff on the ear and his card marked - they go to their local "representative" not because Police don't want to do it, it's because they can't! Watch Monty Python's Meaning of Life - the chap with no legs or arms still wanting to duel - that's your common garden peeler - arms and legs removed by legislation, human rights and the desire from those in authority to make them look warm and fuzzy. Orde wrecked it and Baggot will continue to wreck it! Take their binding off and let them Police to deliver the justice the man or woman on the street wants!

OLDSOD in Fermanagh wrote (469 days ago):

I think the easy answer is to just blame the police, but the problem is more complex than that. I think there are a lot of differing representative groups, legislative bodies and political bodies, who all have different ideas on just what police/ coyrts should do, how they do it and what justice should be. The justice system is the UK and NI particularly is very "offender-centric" (or human rights centric if you will) as opposed to victim-centric. Just look at the debate when the off duty police officer shot the armed robber, one half were screaming for the officers head on a plate, while the other half wished to pin a medal on him. The police are always wrong according to somebody vocal, for being too harsh on offenders (see the debate on publishing photos) or stop and search, or too soft according to others. In effect, as a society we want it both ways, we want law and order, but don't want to do what it takes to get law and order. So sadly for many victims, the quick and easy route to justice offered by paramilitaries is very tempting. The result is a timid and emasculated police force,... er I mean service.

philip in uk wrote (470 days ago):

the police are to scared to go into areas on both sides becoz they become a target for hoods thats all they are terorising people in ther own homes should be ashamed of ther selfs ppl from both sides jumpin on the bandwagon they need to grow up it never got them any wher all them years ago an still wont to day we cant hav a sociaty without law an order it would me chaos an as for the police ther the same wher ever u go ther wen u dont need them an not wen u do i came back to my house one nite to find the door had been kicked in so i phoned the psni and told them they said to me wat do u want us to do ur living in a high risk area were not coming out phone the housing to get ur door fixd thats wat we pay are taxes for to be told that any wonder ppl have no faith in them

Gary Ashton in antrim wrote (470 days ago):

The fact is paramilitaries are just jumped up criminals using a cause to back them up. The failure of the PSNI is no different to the police in England. The problem is not the police, but the judicial system who seems to let these people carry on offending in these areas. Some of these thugs have over 200 offences but they keep letting them off. Even though I think Paramilitaries are doing the polices job and scaring these thugs. It's not the correct process and the courts need to offer greater sentences so paramilitaries don't get the support in areas. If people supported the police a bit more they could help. There is too much anti over here.

John in Enniskillen wrote (471 days ago):

The psni do their best, but are undermined each and every day by wolly headed, soft judges, pandering to their lawyer friends. Until legal aid is scrapped and they no longer have the taxpayer to fund their courtroom antics, people will go to paramilitaries for real justice, and who could blame them.

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