Northern Ireland

PSNI urged to review its approach to policing in south Armagh

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy

Policing in south Armagh “has barely changed” since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement it has been claimed.

Newry and Armagh MLA Conor Murphy made the comment after meeting with PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne yesterday.

The sit-down came after Mr Byrne was criticised by nationalists for posing with heavily armed officers outside Crossmaglen PSNI station on Christmas Day.

Mr Murphy said: "The Christmas Day photo stunt in Crossmaglen made headlines, but is only symptomatic of a much wider problem with policing in the area.

"Over 20 years after Patten and the Good Friday Agreement, the police approach to the community in south Armagh has barely changed.”

Mr Murphy said that in the wake of the killing of Glen Quinn in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, at the weekend “it is completely unacceptable that south Armagh is described as 'unique'”.

"The leadership in the PSNI still seem to be in a mindset of imposing policing on the local community, as opposed to policing with the community,” he said.

In a tweet Mr Byrne said: “A meeting with Sinn Fein this afternoon was the first in a series with elected representatives on community policing in Crossmaglen.

Always willing to listen and learn we had a constructive and honest discussion about how we move on.”