PSNI responds to TUV slam on Garda involvement in new officers ceremony: Attendance 'commonplace' says Chief Constable Jon Boutcher
Heads of the PSNI and Garda attending each other’s events is “commonplace”, chief constable Jon Boutcher has said after TUV criticism.
The participation of Garda members in what amounts to a graduation day for the PSNI last week was slammed as “inappropriate and deliberately provocative” by TUV leader Jim Allister, who argued that it was “promoting an all-Ireland policing narrative” that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Last Friday’s event at the PSNI’s east Belfast training college saw 45 police officers formally attested into the force. During the ceremony, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher was joined by An Garda Síochana Commissioner Justin Kelly, and members of PSNI and Garda bands performed.
But Mr Allister felt it was evidence of the PSNI’s leadership being “increasingly comfortable indulging nationalist symbolism, while displaying scant regard for the constitutional position and sensitivities of the unionist community”.
Said the MP: “These officers were being inducted into the police service of part of the United Kingdom, yet the occasion was used to parade the uniform and insignia of the police force of a foreign state and promote an all-Ireland policing narrative.
“No one disputes the necessity of practical co-operation between neighbouring police forces in combating terrorism and cross-border crime. That is entirely different from inserting Garda ceremonial personnel into the formal attestation of United Kingdom police officers.”
Arguing that the appearance Republic of Ireland’s officers carried “political and constitutional symbolism”, he reinforced: “The PSNI is not an adjunct of the Garda and Northern Ireland is not part of an all-Ireland policing jurisdiction.”
After the PSNI were contacted over the issue by the News Letter, Mr Boutcher said: “Attendance of the heads of the respective organisations is commonplace and has been for many years.
“This year will be 25 years since Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne attended the first PSNI attestation. I myself have attended Garda graduation ceremonies and last year welcomed to Commissioner [Drew] Harris to [the east Belfast training college] prior to his retirement.”