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PSNI Policing In Ballymena
The BBC reports that 30 police officers have been involved in protecting residents from sectarian attacks, following the arson attacks on 2 Catholic primary schools in Ballymena. Apparently Operation Striker, as it has been termed, involved security coverage of 50 Catholic-owned properties, churches, schools and GAA grounds.
There had even been plans for helicopter surveillance but this had to be abandoned due to the old British favourite: the weather.
Follow up:
"We want to demonstrate in a very visible way we are there to support the community in Ballymena, and in particular, the Catholic community. We want to let them know that we, the police, are going to do everything we can to support them and prevent them from being victims of crime."
Chief Inspector Stephen Martin
At the same time as saying they're going to do everything possible to help the victims of these sectarian attacks, the police said that others must also do their bit.
"The police have to answer for their operational ability and that's fair enough. But civic society and churches and politicians and everybody else need to do something about this nihilism, on the one hand, among youngsters, 14, 15, 16-year-olds, because that's what it is feeding into our old problems of sectarianism. Plus the adults, the 20 and 30 year olds who are quite sectarian in the sense that they can't live with their neighbours. Police can't solve all of that."
Denis Bradley, vice chairman, Policing Board
I just wonder why the PSNI didn't make a bigger song and dance about this. While I appreciate that they were just "getting on with it" and not just making a show for the cameras, they were being criticised for not doing enough and I wasn't aware they were doing anything until I read today's report.