DUP Questions Willie Frazer Arrest

The DUP has questioned the manner in which loyalist campaigner Willie Frazer was detained yesterday over the breaching of bail conditions.

Mr Frazer was arrested on Tuesday on the Newtownards Road on suspicion of a breach in his bail orders.

The 53-year-old, from Markethill in County Armagh, was granted bail in March over a serious of offences committed during the unionist flag protests in January.

He was ordered not to be within two miles of public protests, demonstrations or processions.

The DUP's William Irwin said the manner of the arrest, which was captured on video, "raises questions".

"It is right to ask why so many officers were required to participate in this arrest," he said.

"Mr Frazer poses no threat yet multiple Land Rovers with police in riot gear were deemed necessary to carry this out.

"It also appears that Mr Frazer was arrested on suspicion of breaching bail conditions. If this is the case then was contact made with him to request that he attend a police station and answer whatever questions are necessary? Surely this would have been an appropriate course of action to have taken in the circumstances and avoided the need for any large-scale policing operation.

"It is vital that everyone is equal under the law and equally subject to the law. There is also a need however for the police to demonstrate that their tactics are not only justified but appropriate and necessary. If the police wish to question Mr Frazer about a suspicion of breaching his bail conditions then they will obviously want to outline what steps they had taken prior to launching a relatively sizable policing operation at a time when resources have already been stretched."

(IT/CD)