POLICE have been accused of operating `different laws for different sets of people' after a senior officer admitted no fines were issued following a mass protest at Stormont.
Crowds of people gathered on Saturday to protest against the Executive's Covid-19 restrictions - including the wearing of face masks - after further measures were imposed across Northern Ireland.
The PSNI's approach has drawn criticism for the contrast with the way a peaceful and socially-distanced Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstration was policed - with several members of the north's BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) community still facing the prospect of serious criminal charges in connection with the event.
Chief Inspector Christian Bradley said insisted officers had dealt with the demonstrators in a way that was "consistent with our approach in all such cases".
"Officers spoke with the parties concerned and, where appropriate, explained and encouraged people to comply with directions to prevent any breach of the peace and to ensure that the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020 were followed.
"This approach, based on the ‘4 E’s’ of Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforcement as a last resort is consistent with our approach in all such cases," he said.
"While no fines have been issued at this time, we continue to review evidence that we have gathered to identify if any offences have been committed."
Up to 70 BLM protestors were penalised for breaches of coronavirus lockdown regulations after enforcement powers were given to the PSNI at 11pm on Friday June 5 - the night before the demonstration.
There was an outcry a week later after no fines were issued when hundreds of people gathered to "protect Belfast cenotaph" outside City Hall - with many participants reportedly not social distancing.
The Police Ombudsman has launched an investigation and the Policing Board is also reviewing the PSNI "response to Covid-19", while a raft of legal challenges to the fines have been issued.
Nigerian lawyer and activist Adekanmi Abayomi said the latest protest has underlined the stark contrast between the way ethnic minority protestors were treated compared with majority white demonstrators.
"How can the police be saying they are being consistent with the law when everyone can see that they are not? They are applying the law in a different way - when it is one case with our issue - to when it's a case with another set of people?
"That is what's generating the frustration in the community. This is the government saying to us that when it is a case of an ethnic minority they can have different treatment."
