‘Slow passes by cars filming at Larne port’, but police say no change to Irish Sea border threat assessment

The PSNI last night said that they were aware of “signs of tension” but that there had been no change to their threat assessment – which last month said that there were no credible threats to those manning the Irish Sea border inspections.

Last Wednesday night the PSNI briefed a meeting of the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

DUP councillor Gregg McKeen said that the police told the meeting that 2,464 hours of police time, and 390 hours of overtime, been directed to patrols at Larne Port in the past two months.

That equates to 356 eight-hour shifts – about six such shifts a day in that period.

Cllr McKeen said: “If police believe there’s no threat, why is so much resource and public money being diverted to Larne Port? It doesn’t add up. How much PSNI resource has been directed to other ports in Northern Ireland and why?

“The increased police presence I have no doubt is aimed at providing reassurance, however, it can also have the opposite impact in that it can unsettle and unnerve staff.”
Another source – who is not a member of the DUP – said that during the meeting police said that there were a number of slow car passes at the harbour last weekend, with some cars stopping and occupants taking photos or videos.

The source said that police had told the meeting that they were unable to identify those responsible but had stepped up patrols in the area and discussed additional safety measures which could be taken.

When asked about the claims, the PSNI responded with a statement in which Chief Inspector Stephen Murray said: “We have been carrying out high visibility patrols right across Larne in order to provide reassurance to the local community.

“However, whilst we are aware of signs of tension within the community, there has been no change in our assessment of the threat in this area.

“Our focus and aim is to make Larne and the greater mid and east Antrim area a safer place for the people who work and live here.

“This is something that must be achieved through working in partnership with local residents, community groups and political representatives.”

Earlier this month the News Letter reported that DUP MP Ian Paisley and the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Peter Johnston, said that a port official had been put out of his home because of a credible threat.

The PSNI would neither confirm nor deny that the individual had been moved due to a threat.

READ MORE:

Still reeling from Boris Johnson’s betrayal, DUP founding member says he’s questioning the Union

Sam McBride: A failure of unionist diplomacy has left it more isolated than for decades

Leaked internal DUP minutes show fear of looming electoral collapse, and dismay at party’s direction

Brandon Lewis interview: Denial of the Irish Sea border is gone as SoS says parts of frontier are being ditched for good

Ban on British soil entering Northern Ireland is over for good, says NI Secretary of State Brandon Lewis

Sam McBride: Northern Ireland is now a proxy battleground for the EU and the UK – and that is dangerous

Sam McBride: After darkness, light: Reasons for real hope as Northern Ireland vaccine rollout accelerates – but first expect political rows

Sam McBride: Read the small print – the Irish Sea border may be impossible to remove, even if MLAs vote it down

Sam McBride: Shackled to Brexit, Arlene Foster can’t admit that it has been disastrous for Union – but Irish Sea border is radically reshaping NI

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor