PSNI officers have been told that “failing to act” over controversial public displays, including paramilitary flags and emblems, is no longer an option for the force.
Details of the shift in policy have been revealed at a meeting of the Policing Board by Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton after he was asked about the display of racist material.
Police have previously come in for criticism over their approach to dealing with displays that glorify paramilitary groups.
Every year, thousands of flags are put up in loyalist and mixed districts, paying tribute to loyalist paramilitary groups, including the UVF and UDA.
Paramilitary flags are also often on display during loyalist band parades across the north every summer.
A day after Mr Singleton spoke about the new policy, the PSNI issued an image of a man appearing to carry a UDA banner during an Apprentice Boys of Derry parade in the city last August.
Mr Singleton suggested the approach previously adopted by the PSNI fell short.
“Our feeling as a team was that we just weren’t dynamic enough on these issues when they were appearing,” he said.
Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton
PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
“And that’s a reflection on us as a service but also how we work with our partners.
“These sorts of complaints around public displays, whether it’s words, flags or emblems, are something that we are used to dealing with.
“We receive them regularly, they are a daily occurrence, and of course they spike around a particular time of year, and I don’t need to explain to people when they would be.”
UVF flags on display
Mr Singleton said the recent ‘service instruction’ is clear on what PSNI officers are expected to do.
“The purpose of the instruction is to make sure that officers are clear in terms of what our expectations are of them in particular circumstances,” he said.
“How we want them to respond, how we want them to report and how we want to investigate the incidents in public spaces.
“Ideally, what we are looking for is for them to be confident in terms of their understanding of what their role is.”
While Mr Singleton appeared to suggest the PSNI will retain “discretion” about their approach, he said taking no action is no longer an option.
“Importantly though, we still retain the discretion to determine what steps can be lawfully taken within our statutory functions and in accordance with human rights,” he said.
“The emphatic thing in this policy position is, however, not making a decision, doing nothing or failing to act is not an option.
“Whilst the new instruction acknowledges that assessing and formally documenting risk and community impact considerations will remain relevant for us, what it also makes very clear is that those processes and the decision making surrounding them shouldn’t unduly delay us from doing what we need to do as an organisation.”
Last year, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher revealed plans to remove paramilitary “displays” and confirmed he had been in contact with the British government’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, about the move.
At the time, Mr Boutcher said police have already developed “operational guidance” which has resulted in a “significant number” of anti-immigration displays being removed.