Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Since the important distinction between “removal” and “relocation” was not interrogated at today’s public meeting of the Policing Board, there is no assurance that the PSNI is going to step away from the recommendation in the South Armagh review to explore “the relocation of memorials to an agreed space in the station away from public locations and main thoroughfares.” A mere assurance of no ‘removal’ levels open the report’s option of ‘relocation’.
“At no point did the Chief Constable give a clear and unambiguous commitment that memorials would remain where they are. Why did no member of the Board seek a public assurance from Simon Byrne on this point? Such ineptitude wasted the opportunity for rigorous scrutiny.
“Why was he not challenged on the PSNI approach to this issue over the years when memorials to murdered officers have been removed from areas of public display?
“On the issue of joint policing with the Garda again the Chief Constable was let off the hook. Let’s not forget that the report proposes “joint rather than parallel policing” with the Garda with “a cross-border accountability mechanism” and governance. It is not a matter of the PSNI and the Garda setting up breath tests on both sides of the border as Mr Byrne suggested! Again, ineffective holding to account.
“Today was a golden opportunity for Unionists on the Policing Board to publicly force the Chief Constable to nail his colours to the mast on these critical issues. Many will be wondering why it wasn’t taken. Furthermore, they will question what the point of Unionists being on the Board is when they don’t carry through on their public expressions of dismay and the Chief Constable is unscathed by their weak questioning?”