There is nothing more damaging to trust in a police service than vociferous allegations of two tier policing.
The repeated allegations that the PSNI turned a blind eye to a loyalist mob in Pitt Park on the 2nd February 2021 and yet three days later intervened during a peaceful memorial on the Ormeau Road and arrested a victim of an evil UVF gun attack have been disastrous.
The proximity between the two incidents made them ripe for false comparisons.
The allegations were made by the most senior politicians in our land and have been fuelled on social media. The allegations are utterly baseless. Yet, they have never been decisively rebutted by the PSNI, mainly because the last Chief Constable and his Deputy got themselves in an almighty pickle.
Instead of countering false facts, the myths were validated when the last Chief Constable and his Deputy suspended the arresting officer from the Ormeau Road incident and declared to an invited press pack that the officer had let the PSNI down.
Here are some facts and figures. Considerable research was required to obtain them and most have never been published before.
Pitt Park investigation.
TWENTY TWO people arrested.
THREE people charged AND NINETEEN people reported to the PPS for dozens of offences.
Many cases are on going through the courts.
In short, the PSNI’s operational and investigative strategy was effective. Protect life and limb on the day (it was a spontaneous incident for which there was no time to plan) and follow up with a rigorous investigation. The media strategy however was ineffective, especially after the Ormeau Road fiasco.
Ormeau Road incident.
ONE arrest of a man for disorderly – he was released from back of police car after political demands.
NINE times the arrested man was asked for his name in order to allow de-arrest.
Around 35-40 people prima facie breached Covid Regulations – ZERO prosecutions.
ELEVEN people were identified by a special public order investigation team as committing potential offences including disorderly behaviour and obstructing police. ZERO prosecutions.
TWO law abiding officers were unlawfully suspended/repositioned.
ONE officer assaulted, three years later the case hasn’t reached court.
As I’ve said repeatedly there was NO intervention during the memorial, it ended minutes before, the families left, the road reopened. One person called the officers over and was abusive, a crowd returned afterwards to surround the officers. A video clip was circulated with false claims that it was filmed DURING the memorial. A coordinated smear campaign was launched.
Conclusion.
False facts need challenged. When they go unchecked they become truths that are eventually accepted as fact. Those in political office who propagated these untruths are deeply irresponsible.
Honourable policing needs defended. When people risk their lives for society that is the very least those at the very top of policing ought to do in return. Fact checking is also vital for public trust. The PSNI needs to be on the front foot, promoting it achievements and defending its reputation.
The campaign to expose the full truth of what happened after the Ormeau Road incident continues. The full truth is shocking. In the past week another chapter of that story was playing out.
Burrows Blog 