The Five Demands

Ongoing harassment vindicates view on new policing
I read with interest the article regarding stop and search (8 March). It is clear from this article and from the never-ending incidents that the RUC/PSNI can enforce this stop and search legislation and nobody can do anything about it – not even those who promised to make them “accountable”.
I refer to this force as the RUC/PSNI for simple and obvious reasons. The reason is that the onlu differences are basic cosmetic changes, given that most PSNI members served when it was called the RUC vindicates that view.
The article in question concentrated on an incident involving a bus full of children who found themselves topped and searched, not only by the RUC/PSNI but also the British Army.
On March 5 before this article was published I raised the issue of PSNI harassment at a meeting of Newry and Mourne District Council. I submitted a motion on behalf of the republican group Eirigi. While submitting the motion I mentioned several incidents including the one involving the children. Not one single councillor in the chamber would second this motion, not even those who claim to be “republican”.
The ongoing harassment, of not only republicans but also their children, is vindicating our view that the RUC/PSNI haven’t changed and there is a new policing dispensation , they should try telling that to the republicans who are being stopped and searched daily, having their homes raided and whose children are being targeted by the PSNI

Councillor DAVY HYLAND