ireland, irish, ulster, belfast, northern ireland, british, loyalist, nationalist, republican, unionist

(Editorial, Irelandclick.com)

The horrifying ordeal endured by a Glen Road teenager at the hands of armed robbers, and featured on our front page this week, is more proof, if indeed any more were needed, that this community is crying out to be policed professionally and effectively. Unfortunately, the fact that the family have issued a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thugs responsible says a lot about the faith that ordinary people have in the PSNI to bring law and order to the streets.

Last week we reported on a worrying rise in the number of complaints about the PSNI processed in the past year by the Police Ombudsman’s office. That is another sign that all is far from well with regard to the present policing arrangements, and a clear indication that, despite what some over-optimistic people are saying in the wake of the IRA’s decision to disarm, the day when the nationalist and republican community will be fully represented on the Policing Board is still some way off.

That armed villains are brazen enough to take over a private home, assault a member of the family and ransack the place is something that will send a frisson of fear and apprehension through the community. Because while we all look with concern at violent crime when it takes place on the streets, or when banks and businesses are targeted, we like to think that once we close the door and pull the curtains we are safe in our own homes. Clearly, there are now ruthless thieves out there to whom no criminals’ ‘code of honour’ applies and who will stop at nothing.

That is a lesson we should all take on board.

This article appeared first on the Irelandclick.com web site on October 17, 2005.