Sinn Féin to attend first PSNI graduation

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-68234965

Sinn Féin is to attend a PSNI graduation ceremony for the first time on Friday, BBC News NI has learnt.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and the party’s policing board member Gerry Kelly have accepted an invitation to attend the event at Garnerville.

It will be the first time Sinn Féin politicians have attended a passing out ceremony since the PSNI was established 23 years ago.
It is understood Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will also attend.
Sinn Féin confirmed its party’s move in a short statement on Thursday evening.

A spokesperson said: “Tomorrow the PSNI student officer attestation ceremony takes place where a number of new recruits will graduate.

“Michelle O’Neill will be in attendance and will join the ceremony. Sinn Féin Policing Board member Gerry Kelly MLA will also attend”

‘Lukewarm’ support of PSNI

Sinn Féin has in the past been accused of having a lukewarm approach in its support for the PSNI.

But four years ago Michelle O’Neill and Gerry Kelly attended the launch of a PSNI poster recruitment campaign.

The chief constable at the time, Simon Byrne, described the move as “seismic and historic”.

He said he hoped it would have a significant impact on the PSNI’s ability to recruit more Catholic officers.

But since then Sinn Féin has turned down invitations to attend PSNI graduation ceremonies.

Reacting to the announcement, DUP MP Gregory Campbell said that it was “better late than never”.

He told BBC News NI’s Evening Extra: “It is an unequivocal welcome of a step which should have occurred many years ago.

“Hopefully it will lead on to further support to get people from across the community to join the police, and I mean active support, not just a statement.”

Analysis: First and deputy first ministers standing together

This is a significant development.
It ties in to what Michelle O’Neill has been talking about in terms of being a ‘first minister for all’.

We expected a whole series of firsts for the first minister to try and demonstrate her commitment.

Probably this is the first step in that direction.

Though the party’s opponents will say ‘why has it taken this long for Sinn Féin, in a sense, to wholly sign-up to policing by being visible and present at such a high profile event?’

The fact that we now have a power-sharing Executive in place means we now have a first and deputy first minister to stand together essentially.

by Ah_here_like