MLA writes to Chief Constable over ‘wildly disturbing’ tweets by transgender activist

Mervyn Storey, former minister for both the finance and community departments, said that the remarks made by Transgender NI director Alexa Moore are “wildly disturbing”.

He was responding to a News Letter article on Monday which quoted a litany of Twitter messages from that individual, including calls for the PSNI to be abolished and references to the police as racists, fascists, oppressors and pigs, who “deserve the wall”.

The comments were of particular note because Transgender NI has previously been hired by the PSNI to “train” its custody sergeants in transgender matters (the Department of Justice is among the other organisations to have also hired the group in the past).

Now Mr Storey has posed a series of questions to the Chief Constable Simon Byrne, and has sent a similar letter to the Department of Justice.

His letter states that Alexa Moore’s “anti-police and anti-law and order views are completely unacceptable and our view they should be strongly challenged”.

It adds: “The particular focus of these comments promoting a reduction in policing numbers and callin g for an abolition of policing services altogether is wildly disturbing.

“This is even more concerning given the PSNI’s stated aim of increasing the permanent officer count and ongoing efforts of local parties, including our own, to help realise that commitment.”

Among the questions he asked about the training are:

~ How was it commissioned and by whom?

~ How were individuals delivering the training vetted?

~ Was the content of the training course subject to rigorous assessment as to its evidence-base and accuracy?

~ What checks and balances were in place to prevent training content straying into political campaigning?

~ What mechanisms were in place allowing officers to complain or object to the training either before or after it was scheduled?

The News Letter tried to contact Alexa Moore and Transgender NI but like before, all attempts to obtain comment went unanswered.

The PSNI said it will respond to Mr Storey in due course.