Extra Police Meeting Security 'Unwanted'

A senior Unionist has insisted public policing meetings cannot be turned into 'fortresses' in response to the threat from dissident republicans.

UUP Assemblyman Basil McCrea (pictured) said upping security at District Policing Partnership (DPP) and Northern Ireland Policing Board meetings would only signal to terrorists that they are winning.

His comments came just weeks after the Real IRA planted a 400lb car bomb close Policing Board headquarters in Belfast.

The device did not fully detonate, but Chief Constable Matt Baggott suggested it had the potential to cause significant damage and "reckless loss of life".

In September, a Moyle DPP meeting was cancelled following a telephoned bomb warning.

Since then several attempts have been made on the lives of serving police officers. A booby trap device exploded under the car of a police officer's partner in east Belfast in October.

Explosives were placed under the passenger's side. The injured civilian woman's PSNI dog handler partner, who normally travelled with her, was not in the car at the time.

Dissidents staged their most deadly attacks in March, when two soldiers were gunned-down outside Massereene Barracks in Antrim.

Several others, including two civilians, were seriously wounded in the shooting.

Less than 48 hours later a policeman was shot dead in Craigavon.

DPP meetings, a forum for public interaction with policing authorities, have become regular targets for campaign groups.

Dissidents republicans have staged several protests at gatherings, on one occasion forcing their way into a Londonderry meeting, causing major disruption to proceedings.

Mr McCrea, a political NI Policing Board member, said security was reliant on intelligence, suggesting it is impossible to protect everyone.

"The way to win the battle over policing is to win the hearts and minds of the public and that isn't going to happen if we turn these meetings into fortresses," he said.

"The threat level is up, but the issue is about making life and policing here ordinary. We can't let the dissidents win."

Derry Alderman Joe Miller said he respected the public's right to hold demonstrations, but objected to entire meetings being brought to a standstill.

Referring to a protest yesterday by family members of IRA man John Brady, who died in police custody, Mr Miller said: "They came in read their statement and left and afterwards we were able to get on and discuss the issue of domestic violence.

"I can handle that. What I can't handle is when they come in and break up a meeting, not letting people get on with the business they have come to do."

(PR/BMcc)