PSNI chief in U-turn on new badge
Byrne abandons changes as unionists say: he got it wrong
THE Chief Constable was wrong to try to change the PSNI’S crest, politicians said last night after Simon Byrne admitted it was a “non-starter”.
Policing Board members also questioned Mr Byrne’s assertion that his idea had been “widely shared” with them ahead of his announcement on social media.
THE Chief Constable was “wrong” to try to introduce changes to the PSNI’S crest, a leading unionist politician said last night after Simon Byrne did a U-turn on his proposals.
As part of a refresh to the PSNI’S branding, Mr Byrne had publicly announced a plan to drop the words “Northern Ireland” from the badge. The crest is widely used on vehicles and uniforms across the force.
He said the proposals had been “widely shared with key stakeholders including the Policing Board” — although two members expressed surprise at this statement.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Mr Byrne admitted the idea was a “non-starter” and said it was not “Einstein territory” to realise “there is no point in taking the proposal forward”.
In a later statement, he added: “The name of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is set in law and will not be changing, nor will there be any changes to the Service crest and emblems. I recognise entirely that the crest is enshrined in law.
“This has resulted in much debate and commentary and provoked a strong reaction from some.
“I have listened to the feedback and as a result can confirm that the simplified white version of the crest planned for use on social media and digital platforms will not now form part of the public consultation and will no longer be used.”
Following the U-turn, Ulster Unionist justice spokesman Doug Beattie MLA welcomed the Chief Constable’s change of mind. He said he had no problem with rebranding but said problems arose over the crest as it was enshrined in law following the Good Friday Agreement.
“Symbolism is incredibly important in Northern Ireland and there is a strong grassroots feeling that he shouldn’t be changing this,” added Mr Beattie.
“I think he has accepted that, he has got it wrong and he changed his mind. I think that’s a good thing because it shows that he’s reflective on things that he does.”
DUP Policing Board member Mervyn Storey believed Mr Byrne should not have announced any proposed changes on Twitter as the platform is “not for a policy decision”
He added: “Contrary to what has been said, Policing Board members had to press the PSNI for the detail about this rebrand. Eventually details were secured last Thursday, and members were given an opportunity to study the detail but were unaware that the Chief Constable was going to tweet all detail on Friday.”
SDLP Policing Board member Dolores Kelly said that when presentations about rebranding were made to the committee two weeks ago, there was no mention of changing the PSNI’S crest.
“I was taken aback by the turn of events and as I’ve said previously, we all know the emblems of the PSNI and the crest etc were hard won compromises from both sides of the community and there was never any political mischief in any of this,” she continued.
“I was anxious about how some elements within the loyalist community were stoking the fire and subliminally implying there was a political agenda and that some advisors to the Chief Constable were at their work, which was blatantly untrue.”
TUV leader Jim Allister said the PSNI’S reasons for removing the words Northern Ireland were “so threadbare to be laughable”.
“No one was ever going to buy the idea that this was about difficulty getting space for the words Northern Ireland on clothing,” he said.
Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI), which represents rank and file officers, said the Chief Constable “has listened and acted promptly”.
He added that it was time to “move on” from the debate around the crest but said that rebranding must continue.