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

(Editorial, Irelandclick.com)

The PSNI denies that one of its officers unholstered a handgun and pointed it at local children on Saturday, although there is eyewitness evidence that this did in fact happen.

Given that PSNI patrols still routinely carry machine guns that are incapable of being holstered, we think that the denial is a little pointless.

The fact of the matter is that the PSNI remains a heavily armed militia deeply unsuited to the very specialised task of policing in a modern urban environment. As evidenced by recent events, the force is still much more focused on carrying on a clandestine campaign against republicans than it is in providing a professional policing service to the people of this community.

The outrageous shenanigans that PSNI Special Brand is embroiled in cannot be separated from the everyday business of normal policing. To the ordinary man and woman on the street, the PSNI officers who tour their streets in heavily armoured Land Rovers are part of the same force that is attempting to undermine the carefully constructed political agreement that flowed from the ceasefires and that led to the setting up of an Assembly and Executive.

Chief Constable Hugh Orde cannot be surprised to find that his officers are still being spurned by the people of this community when unnamed and unseen forces under his command are working to destroy the chance that has presented itself for a peaceful shared future.

This article appeared first on the Irelandclick.com web site on January 9, 2006.