DUP delegation meets senior PSNI officers about policing of Gaza parade in Scarva
DUP MP Carla Lockhart has called for “meaningful lessons to be learned” after meeting senior PSNI officers about the major policing operation in Scarva during a recent parade.
For the second year running the village was virtually locked down by a heavy police presence as a pro-Palestinian parade from Lurgan walked along the border of the village on its way to Omeath.
The parade took place on June 6.
Ms Lockhart came under fire for standing in a crowd of protestors, some of whom were masked. But Leonard Anderson, secretary of Scarva & District Community Association, praised her for “defusing” high tension between riot police and protestors.
Yesterday Ms Lockhart met with senior PSNI officers to discuss the policing operation. Also in the delegation were DUP MLAs Diane Forsythe, Diane Dodds and Jonathan Buckley, with councillor Paul Greenfield.
Speaking after the meeting, Ms Lockhart said: “Our view remains that the policing operation in Scarva was heavy-handed and that there are important lessons to be learned.
“The most pressing of these is the need for the PSNI to engage proactively with local elected representatives in advance of, and during, future parades or demonstrations of a highly political nature.”
The MP also pressed police to investigate “numerous alleged breaches” of the Parades Commission determination for the parade.
She added: “I have been subjected to personal criticism for my presence in Scarva. However, during our meeting, senior PSNI officers commended both myself and my colleagues for the constructive role we played in helping to calm tensions.”