PSNI drawing up agreement with Sinn Féin run Stormont department over paramilitary flags

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/psni-drawing-up-agreement-with-sinn-fein-run-stormont-department-over-paramilitary-flags-RHK6MQO57FE25CD3SC3VB4PQVU/

PSNI drawing up agreement with Sinn Féin run Stormont department over paramilitary flags

Thousands of flags promoting loyalist groups put up across north every year

The PSNI is drawing up an agreement with a Stormont department run by Sinn Féin over how to deal with flags promoting paramilitary groups.

Details were revealed during a meeting of the Policing Board on Thursday.

Each year thousands of paramilitary flags are placed on lampposts across the north, mainly in loyalist areas.

The flags which often promote proscribed organisations such as the UVF and UDA have in the past been placed close to PSNI stations.

UDA flags put up within sight of police statioOpens in new window
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In June the Irish News reported that UDA flags, were hung from lampposts near Knocknagoney PSNI station inn east Belfast.

Union and Ulster flags were also hoisted directly in front of the police station.

Asked by Alliance board member Peter McReynolds about the PSNI’s approach to dealing with paramilitary flags, chief constable Jon Boutcher said his forces has no “tolerance for paramilitary flags but there’s a challenging history here”.

He said PSNI officers were provided with guidance “on flags and hate displays” last year.

He added that the Policing Board’s human rights adviser was given the “updated version” of the PSNI guidance this week.

“In my time here, you will recall, I have said….that where there are flags that we can get down, we should take them down quickly,” he said.

“And where we are able to that, that is my direct instruction, where it’s on street furniture where we can reach it and safely get down, lets just get them off the street.

“If it’s not safe to do it then the responsibility is on the owner, or land owner, to remove that flag and we will do everything that is required to make sure they are aware of the legal responsibility and where there are concerns, which inevitable there are…..we are there to support them and make sure it can be safely done.”

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton revealed that talks have been taking place with the Department for Infrastructure, which is led by Sinn Féin minister Liz Kimmins.

He said police have sought “to put our own house in order first” adding that “clear guidance” has been given to officers and staff”.

He said senior officers had a meeting with the infrastructure minister in June and “there’s a clear commitment from them to work with us on an improved MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), which hopefully will make the process far more dynamic than its ever been in terms of them coming to assist in terms of the removal.

“And visa versa, when they seek to take a lawful action and seek the support of police that again…make that as smooth a position as possible.”

He said police “retain operational discretion as to how we act”.

Mr McReynolds asked when the updated MoU would be published.

Mr Singleton said confirmed there was an existing MoU “for a number of years” adding there was “frustration with how that was operating and it didn’t seem to be achieving…the objective we want”.

“It was so ineffective as to give rise to a legitimate amongst some communities that actually we were either ambivalent to these displays, or in some way complicit in the as well.

“So, it’s about a revised MoU first and foremost.

“It needs more work, it definitely does.”

“We need to move it on to the next stage in terms of really thrashing out the detail around this.”