A potent intervention?
Last month I expressed a degree of scepticism about the argument that an agreement on devolving justice would help to meet the dissident threat. Today the Independent Monitoring Commission has reported on the growing nature of the dissident challenge.
The IMC has backed the argument that an early agreement would help combat the dissidents by claiming it "could provide a potent intervention. This would not be because the dissidents would be impressed by it. It would be because policing and justice
would no longer be a point of contention across the political divide; rather, it would
be a platform for co-operation against those trying to undermine the peace
process."
So will that cooperation prove more effective if we have, say, an Alliance Minister rather than a direct rule one? David Ford has described today's IMC report as a "wake up call" to the Stormont politicians that further delays cannot be afforded, whilst Shaun Woodward hopes it "should be hugely influential in informing an early decision".
After listening to the Nolan programme's reports on so called punishment attacks earlier today, it's clear that whoever is in charge of the police and the courts in the future will have a real job to do to eliminate the trend towards vigilante justice. Most listeners will have been shocked by the searing account of the brutality with which these attacks are carried out. But there was also evidence from amongst the callers of the reservoir of support for such actions which will only dry up when communities feel full confidence in the ability of the police to respond to crime in their midst. And I couldn't help wondering what other activities those involved in such attacks on young people in their own areas will go on to become embroiled in now they have been "blooded" by their shadowy organisations.
I'm 
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Mark,
Last sentence at post 1 should read - You can bet your salary their not.
Just an after thought - Will the DUP pull out of Stormont? I don't think so as Peter Robinson has his hands stuck to power.
Stormontspy
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You need only look at the recruitment process involved with the police to see that it favours middle-class people who have the ability to deal with confrontation in a professional way, and to log notes and record details accurately. Fair enough you might say.
However, with that comes a mindset of a police service not equipped to deal with the problems in working class areas. For example, police attitudes in working class areas tend to differ, perhaps shorter patience to deal with people who are less articulate, police may be less inclined to follow cases through as perhaps they don't like their accents look down on their behaviours, view the areas as just one massive problem in its entirety making them unenthusiastic to tackle the cases issue by issue, individual by individual. If the mindset is that of just one big problem based on the whole area being beset with criminality and social deprivation - something these recruits aren't accustomed to - this is hardly conducive to solving individual cases of criminality.
The answer is to knock this policing with the community on the head and get the community into the police.
I'm not against a professional career recruitment process where smart people get to fill out application forms and go through the hoops and become qualified police officers but there is a massive link missing in that sometimes you need people from the communities there in the police on an equal basis in terms of status and stature, even if it is only giving advice and knowledge;but, perhaps the best way is just to employ them, where possible and desired.
Leadership on the ground by those that care than say from a detached and heavily regulated, if not politically correct, hand above. Time to meet in the middle somehow.
If the police can opt themselves out of fair employment legislation and EU laws then I reckon they can come up with other more imaginative recruitment practices too. Policing change shouldn't stop at 50:50, new processes should be considered so as the police get the personnel who can deal with the problems on the ground effectively.
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Today's IMC report wrongly names Concerned Families Against Drugs as being involved in shootings and pipe-bombings......
What is strange is that to date, the IMC have never contacted CFAD or any member of CFAD? It is an open community-based anti-drugs group which is dedicated to eradicating illegal drugs. It has never broken the law and am flabbergasted that the IMC should use us as part of it's report?
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Martin Og Meehan.
The tones/messages within your log reveals mixed messages/comments!!!
Blame RUC/PSNI/SinnFein of recruiting suppliers and dealers???
If your against,join up and go to Afgan and destroy poppies!!!
If CFAD were not consulted,why not contact the IMC???
You could then have logged your contribution,whether positive or negative!!!
All for the grotty control of the sub life,and the power of
the punt(pound)(euro),whatever the exchange???
Slugger O'Toole gives mixed messages!!!
CFAD,saves a few,or is it "Direct Action"against the many???
My kneecaps are precious,so are others!!!
Stop these beatings,or we will never believe your actions are
for the greater good,or is it just to get a pound or two!!!
Martin Og Meehan,address the problem!!!It's not who talks to you,
it's what you do,for you and your community!!!
Await your further comment!!!
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Spinspamspun;
There are no mixed messages in what I said....
Fact is CFAD are an open community-based anti-drugs based in North Belfast. There is absolutly no evidence to suggest that CFAD have been involved in anything illegal. If there is, please show us?
Regards making a pound or two, not the case chara....we only expose drug dealers to the local community and taken a substantial amount of drugs off the streets during the past year. CFAD have done a lot more in highlighting this scourge than either the RUC/PSNI or Provisional Sinn Fein. Who like the IMC are only interested in smears and innuendos!
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#6
Martin,thankyou for your response.
If as you say,you expose the dealers,why don't you test
the legal process and pass info to PSNI,and as I
suggested,you arrange to meet IMC,in front of the cameras!
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Mark,
I am very disappointed that the BBC has removed post 1. I imagine that David Simpson is right - the BBC always seem to bow to republicans!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stormontspy
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Stormont
DON'T MENTION THE WAR
I must chide you about your complaint. Surely you have realised by now that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement changed everything.
Much like 1975 in Cambodia, 1998 became Year Zero in Ulster as far as murderous terrorism was concerned. Foul murder was airbrushed from our history. Jean McConville became a non-person; the La Mon Fireball became an inconvenient obstacle to political progress; the Darkley Hall and King's Mill Massacres became totemic victories for Irish republicanism; the Claudy bombing became just an unfortunate mistake; the Warrington Bombing became a case of two children in the wrong place at the wrong time. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture.
So grow up, Stormont, accept the reality that your Government includes mad psychopathic murderers who are beyond redemption but, for the moment, are subdued while receiving the Queen's very generous shilling.
Live with it, Stormont, live with it.
Tiocfiadh Ár Lá
Susie
Carryuff
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I think the blogger spinspamspun is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief or opinion other than his/her own backward looking non progressive and counter productive attitude!!
It would be nice to veiw this blog and not have to read personal attacks on myself and fellow blogers who are from the republican community, a community that has matured the most and is willing to accept the notion of orange and green being equal in the 21st century. Pity it is not a two way street!
Grow up Unionism!!!
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#10
"Disgusted"
Time you got rid of the blinkers!!!
Time you got real!!!
Your analysis is so wrong,so far from the truth!!!
I'm not "Embittered from Nowhere",I'm not on one "side" or the other!!!
If you don't accept that,then time for another chip,to be balanced!!!
You talk about a two way street,I'm on a motorway towards respect etc!!!
Want to join??? or just snipe from your bunker???
Let's see!!!
Personal comments mean little,but don't misrepresent me!!!
I will respond to any posts,bitter or otherwise!!!
"Disgusted",just get real and respect others.
Hopefully a considered response!!!
I'll hold my breath!!! Not to long for a response!!!
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Martin Og Meeham.
Awaiting your answer and resolution towards you
solving your problems!!!
Can CFAD do it???
Prove the world wrong!!!
Turn the dealers in!!!
Be safer in the future!!!
Await your response!!!
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Other than cramming twenty drinks - felons style on a table in the Stormont Hotel, what has SF learnt how to do?
"a community that has matured the most and is willing to accept the notion of orange and green being equal in the 21st century."
I don't think so, SF have presided over 40 years of nothing in West Belfast, what have we got, it is like Englewood, Chicago - we are just nothing people, and if we're nothin, the Prods are totally irrelevant
The PSNI can't be bothered to answer 999 calls in West Belfast, they are widely disliked, and SF don't know anything about policing, they have no context for it, they are a centrally group-thinked party, they are like FARC or ETA, or even the Stasi, SF are really like that.
They will cut people who spent years in the H-Blocks, if you don't think Big brother Number One is darn near perfect, you are a troublemaker
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