THE head of the PSNI in Derry and Strabane has been criticised by councillors after he turned down an invitation to attend a meeting to discuss recent policing issues.
Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones has defended his decision not to attend the meeting on Wednesday. He said the Derry and Strabane policing partnership was the appropriate body through which any issues should be raised.
The council had accepted an Aontú proposal that the district commander meet the authority to discuss issues including a major police operation in Derry's Creggan targeting alleged dissident republican activity.
However, in a letter to the council’s chief executive a day before the scheduled meeting, Mr Jones turned down the invitation.
Aontú councillor Emmet Doyle, who made the original proposal, said he was “furious” that a public servant should believe they had the power to decide whether or not they should be accountable to public representatives. A fresh proposal from Mr Doyle that another request be sent to Mr Jones was passed by the council.
He also condemned the late notification of the district commander's decision not to attend. The decision was also criticised by the SDLP, Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and the DUP.
DUP leader on the council Maurice Devenney said he was disappointed.
A PSNI spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Jones contacted the council chief executive on Tuesday to advise he would not attend. He said the district policing partnership was the “more appropriate” body to address the issues raised.
"The PCSP policing committee (district policing partnership) has the relevant statutory powers for oversight of local policing,” the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman also acknowledged the late notice of the intention not to attend.
