Opinion

Policing of BLM protests ill-judged

The policing of two key events last June - the Bobby Storey funeral and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests - have put the PSNI under an intense spotlight and raised serious questions about its approach.

While the handling of the high-profile funeral led unionist leaders to demand the resignation of the chief constable, arguably it is the BLM demonstrations that leave the police open to greater criticism.

The BLM protests in Belfast and Derry were part of a global anti-racism response to the appalling killing of George Floyd, who died while being restrained by police in the US city of Minneapolis.

At the events, PSNI officers handed out Covid regulation breach fines to some participants, causing deep-seated anger.

In December, Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson found that protesters who sought to exercise their rights in support of Black Lives Matter were 'unfairly treated'.

She said concerns over the discriminatory police handling of the protests were justified and contrasted the policing of the BLM events with a Protect our Monuments counter-protest in Belfast a week later, when no penalties were issued.

Chief Constable Simon Byrne subsequently apologised, saying it was clear that the relationship with the Black and Minority Ethnic Community had suffered.

However, there remained the issue of the protesters who had been reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Three people were reported in connection with the protest outside Belfast City Hall on June 3, seven in relation to Custom House Square, Belfast on June 6 and one in respect of both demonstrations. Three others were reported over the protest held in Guildhall Square, Derry on June 6.

Yesterday, the PPS confirmed no action will be taken against the 14 people, which is the correct decision although it is regrettable it has taken a year for the right outcome to be reached.

We are told the test for prosecution was not met because the suspects would have been able to successfully argue a defence of reasonable excuse.

The PPS said the fact that the protests related to a matter of important social concern, that they were peaceful and organised in a manner that sought to minimise transmission of the virus were also factors in their decision not to prosecute.

There is no doubt that policing the complex, confusing and at times contradictory regulations during the public health emergency has presented the PSNI with an enormous challenge.

Their approach to the Black Lives Matter protests was clearly ill-judged, undermining public confidence, particularly among the minority ethnic community.