West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

PSNI stop and search tactics criticised at West Belfast DPP meeting

Published: 25 September, 2009

PSNI stop and search tactics, which have been ongoing in West Belfast for the past couple of weeks, were criticised heavily at the latest meeting of the West Belfast District Policing Partnership, held last night in Clonard Youth Centre in Clonard Street .

West Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Fra McCann said:

''The community of West Belfast feel they are being punished for the actions of a very small number of people who have no support.

''Sinn Féin have raised our serious concern at the level of stop and search operations across the six counties but particularly in nationalist communities like West Belfast.

''Policing tactics that were used in the past are unacceptable. This abuse of powers by the PSNI is an example of bad policing and people in this community are the victims of that bad policing.

''The PSNI need to do their job in a way that gains community support and builds trust - not alienates them.''

Lenadoon Republican Seamus Finucane echoed Fra McCann's concern, saying:

''An upstanding member of the community was stopped by the PSNI on the Whiterock Road on the evening of Wednesday 23rd September and treated in an unacceptable manner by the PSNI.

''It is striking that the PSNI can place checkpoints and personnel all over West Belfast at the drop of a hat, yet when it comes to dealing with the anti-social criminals who are involved in terrorising the community, the PSNI are not being seen to be as proactive.''

West Belfast DPP member Harry Connolly, along with Sean Lennon and Martin Black from the Greater Andersonstown Safer Neighbourhood Project, also highlighted the contrast between the PSNI stop and search tactics and their lack of response to anti-social behaviour.

Sean Lennon said:

''Last Friday night, 18 September, a large group of drinkers was gathered in the area behind Woodbourne Barracks. The Chinese take-away was attacked and wheelie bins were burned.

''The Safer Neighbourhood Project phoned the PSNI and made them aware of this. There was no response from the PSNI.

''All this occurred while the PSNI had checkpoints on the Suffolk Road and the Blacks Road, stopping members of our community who were going about their business. It is not good enough.''

Saint James's Sinn Fein councillor Breige Brownlee was critical of the PSNI response to the sighting of a convicted sex offender in the Saint James's area in early September.

Ms Brownlee told the meeting that she had rang the PSNI personally to warn them that this sex offender was in the area and she said that other local people had also spoken to the PSNI.

Ms Brownlee said:

''No-one from the PSNI has come back to anyone in the Saint James's area to tell them what the situation is now.

''In this case people decided to engage with the police and the police have not come back to them.

''This is not a one-way street. The police need to work with us if we are willing to work with them. That is what a civil police service must be about.''