Officers being treated like ‘political footballs’
Police Federation chief in plea to politicians after around 30 officers injured in weekend riots
A STARK PLEA has been issued to politicians to consider the human cost of their inflammatory language following several nights of violence here.
Mark Lindsay, who chairs the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said police officers were paying the price for a lack of leadership across society, and were being used as “political footballs”.
It comes after more than 30 officers were injured in violent clashes across Belfast and Newtownabbey over the Easter weekend. Last night rioters gathered again in Newtownabbey and petrol bombs were thrown at police.
POLITICIANS have been urged to consider the human cost of their inflammatory language following several nights of violence.
Mark Lindsay, who chairs the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, told public representatives from across the community to choose their words carefully.
He said police officers were paying the price for a lack of leadership across society, and were being used as “political footballs”.
His plea came after more than 30 officers were injured in violent clashes across Belfast and Newtownabbey over the Easter weekend.
The organisation, which represents rank-and-file police officers, also called on political parties to stand together behind the force as it faces a perfect storm of protests over Brexit, the fallout from the Bobby Storey funeral and the general difficulties in trying to police the community through Covid-19 restrictions.
“Last week it was nationalists complaining over two-tiered policing, this week it’s loyalists,” he said.
“It’s the officers on the streets who end up being caught in the middle.
“These are normal people with normal lives and some of them are risking career-ending injuries by trying to keep the streets safe for people.”
Mr Lindsay said the violence seen in recent nights was not unexpected. He said officers have become “shock absorbers” for society’s anger.
He added: “There’s been a perfect storm building, with the issues over Brexit, the issues that developed last week over the Bobby Storey funeral, and the general issues of trying to police society during the Covid pandemic.
“Our police officers are shock absorbers for the troubles of society, and politicians and commentators should remember that their words have consequences.
“We saw those consequences with over 30 officers being injured over the last few nights.
Our police officers are paying the price for the failure of others across society to lead.”
He said mechanisms exist for holding the Chief Constable and the PSNI to account.
He added: “We have the Policing Board and the Police Ombudsman. Those bodies are the way to make feelings known, not by attacking officers on the streets.
“Violence, such as we have
seen over the past few nights, is not the way to make those feelings known.”
Urging politicians to be careful of the language they use, he continued: “What we don’t need are words adding to what is already an inflammatory situation.
“Ultimately, what we have is young people going out onto the streets in their own areas. They’re only hurting their own communities and it achieves nothing. This is not how disputes should be handled and it only paints a very bad picture of Northern Ireland at a time when we’re looking to attract investment into the country.”
Mr Lindsay warned that PSNI officers often face an impossible job.
“Six weeks ago we had nationalists complaining of twotiered policing over events on the Ormeau Road. Now we have loyalists complaining. It can’t be both ways but, again, officers are stuck in the middle with all sides lining up to have a go,” he added.
“It goes without saying that police do their best across all communities.
“That gets lost, but what we need is for politicians from all sides to stand behind us.
“Using officers as political footballs is not the way to address issues.”