Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“‘The Human Rights Review of the PSNI’s Use of Force’ is a document riddled with dangerous naivety, particularly in its opposition of officers being armed.
“The reality, rather than the aspirational wishful thinking of the report, is that day and daily there persists a pernicious terrorist threat from the IRA in its various guises. No one would be more delighted than the terrorist and violent criminal gangs to see police officers disarmed.
“The report wholly fails to deal with the deterrent effect of the police being armed. When terrorists and others know the police are armed they must factor in the threat to themselves. If they know they are unarmed, then their liberty to operate and perform their murder missions is rendered much more risk free.
“Yet, here we have this woke report advocating making police officers easier targets.
“How the terrorist inclusive Policing Board responds to the report it commissioned will be telling.”