Police switch tactics in school protest

Police were today switching tactics in a determined bid to resolve the 12 week loyalist protest outside a Catholic primary school in north Belfast.

An increased security presence will be in place to allow parents and children of Holy Cross girls school to walk up the road in their own time.

A senior police chief said the operation has been costing an average of £50,000 a day, draining the new police service of finance and manpower.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said the situation could not go on throughout the winter.

‘‘We can’t have young children of four, five and six standing in the freezing cold. It’s just not on. It’s just not acceptable in any civilised society and it’s time to move this on,’’ he said.

Last week after talks with the loyalist residents of Glenbryn, the police reduced in numbers and removed riot shields and helmets.

The police have had extensive discussions, both with loyalists and the board of governors of Holy Cross, who indicated that parents were no longer prepared to be herded up the road.

Mr McQuillan said he wanted to move quickly to the situation where Holy Cross parents and children were free to walk up the footpath.

‘‘After the Hallowe’en holiday I said this couldn’t go on like this. Last week we saw a first attempt by us to begin to bring a more normal atmosphere to this.’’

‘‘Our clear objective is to as quickly as we can possibly do it, to get this back to a normal situation here parents and children will go normally to school in whichever way they choose.’’

Up to 400 officers - one in eight of the total force in Belfast - will be on hand to ensure that the children get safely to school.

Mr McQuillan said the operation, which has been ongoing since the start of term in September has cost £50,000 per day, with today’s changed methods, costing double that amount.

‘‘I think that people in communities across Belfast need to realise the impact this is having on their basic police service.’’

He conceded that the decision to change tactics had not been supported by loyalists.

‘‘It would be wrong of me to give you any indication that this was an agreed process. There are clearly people who would not want to see this to take place.’’

He called on both sides to engage in dialogue to resolve the situation peacefully.

‘‘I would want to see community and political representatives on both sides pushing that process on quickly as possible to try and get an agreed solution to this.’’