TUV meets new Police Chief in Ballymena
24 June 2011
Commenting Jim Allister said, “We discussed with the District Commander multiple issues including:
§ The adequacy of resources and of the police presence, in both rural and urban settings;
§ The level of the ongoing terrorist threat;
§ The continuing fight against drugs and anti-social behaviour;
§ Parading issues, including upcoming events in Rasharkin and Ballymena.
“We were clear in our message and on the parading issue made our expectations very clear, including resistance to the orchestrated campaign of some agitators who want to curb the rights of peaceful parade. We visited lessons that need to be learned, including the handling of last year’s Rasharkin parade, where despite a huge police presence disruption was caused by miscreants being able to plant a hoax device under the nose of the police.
“I welcome the undertaking that there is no policing reason why the Twelfth parade cannot proceed along its intended route to the demonstration out the Cushendall Road, Ballymena.
“Overall, it was a worthwhile meeting but as in all these things we will judge the new commander by the quality of policing that he delivers, assuring him of the support of the law-abiding community.”
