Okay, just a quick note on one of the few significant details to emerge from the Policing Board’s interrogation of senior officers of the PSNI today. In response to the proffered idea that that the PSNI should monitor it fell to the Chief Constable to point out to our senior lawmakers that….
…it was not the job of police to monitor the activity of paramilitary groups. He said he would not support any move to change the law to make the PSNI responsible for monitoring the status of such groups.
It’s a point also highlighted by the BBC’s Vincent Kearney on Twitter:
George Hamilton says it's not job of police to monitor activity by paramilitary groups @BBCNewsNI
— Vincent Kearney (@vincekearney) September 3, 2015
He also pointed out that…
Chief constable tells policing board that while PIRA still exists its purpose is not to pose a threat to national security
— Vincent Kearney (@vincekearney) September 3, 2015
Any such threats would be dealt with by MI5 (where those with anti terrorist experience now operate) or in case of organised crime the National Crime Agency.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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