Everything Ulster - Election 2005

The SDLP yesterday made public news that the PSNI have discharged a quarter of all their informers as the result of an intelligence review. Their candidate for West Belfast, Alex Attwood claims this shakeup is "proof that the policing culture of the past is being replaced" and that the SDLP would use their positions on the policing board to ensure there are no more Brian Nelsons.

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Attwood went on to say that "Every other agent, past, present or future, will be subject to rigoorous rules" and "the highest international standards". He thinks that "recent events across [Northern Ireland] demonstrate that the PSNI ... is now beginning to tackle, pursue and prosecute those involved in organised crime, both loyalist and republican."

Meanwhile, the SDLP justice spokesman, Alban Maginness said that any truth process should hold paramilitaries responsible for their past actions. Presumably all this means is that a group should own up to something, since most of them would get immunity under the Good Friday Agreement anyway. He accused the government and the paramilitaries of having a common interest in ensuring the truth doesn't come out.

Lets all just hope Mr Attwood's message gets across to the nationalist community in his constituency in West Belfast. The old line that the police aren't legitimate and accountable is even less credible now than it ever was and is not an excuse for breaking the law. Of course the problem is that SDLP supporters likely already know that. It's time Sinn Fein took a chance and joined up to the policing board instead of consistently launching attacks on those trying to defend Northern Ireland's communities from the scourge of paramilitary (and other) criminality. It's time they sent a message to their supporters that breaking the law is wrong, and there is no place for criminals in Northern Ireland in 2005.