Row over police graduation ceremony

Resistance mounted today over plans to give outgoing chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan a key role in the graduation ceremony for the first recruits to Northern Ireland’s new police service.

As it emerged that Chris Patten could be invited to the historic April 5 parade for officers to the force he helped transform, nationalist opposition to Sir Ronnie taking part intensified.

Sources close to SDLP representatives on the Northern Ireland Policing Board revealed: ‘‘There’s a real battle going on.

‘‘Sir Ronnie is trying to control it even though he will not officially be involved.’’

The chief constable is due to retire at the end of the month.

He had wanted to remain at his desk until his successor was appointed, allowing him to oversee the first batch of 45 graduating to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland.

These hopes appeared dashed when the Policing Board last month agreed to give him just a four week extension in order to clear up paperwork.

It is understood, however, that Sir Ronnie remains determined to play a prominent part in the event.

With PSNI plans for the ceremony still to be finalised, a police spokesman was giving little away.

He said: ‘‘The finishing touches are still being put to it.’’

But well-placed police sources have indicated Sir Ronnie will be present alongside deputy chief constable Colin Cramphorn.

‘‘He will have an important role,’’ one said.

A special committee has been set up to oversee arrangements for the ceremony which is expected to be a less formal occasion than previous Royal Ulster Constabulary passing-out parades.

Nationalist opposition to Sir Ronnie’s presence, who has come under fire for his handling of the Omagh bomb inquiry, has been raised at committee level of the policing board.

Joe Byrne, one of the three SDLP representatives, said: ‘‘This is obviously a serious issue for us.

‘‘Sir Ronnie Flanagan and senior PSNI officers need to recognise the importance of this occasion for the future of policing and in the interests of new recruits stepping out on that day.’’

Amid the wrangling it has been suggested that Mr Patten, the former Hong Kong governor who produced the blueprint for reforming Northern Ireland’s police service, should also be invited to attend the event.

But Sammy Wilson, a Democratic Unionist member of the board, claimed this would enrage officers whose morale has plunged due to the drastic reduction in numbers caused by police reforms.

Inviting Mr Patten would cause outrage, he insisted.

Mr Wilson said: ‘‘Whoever dreamt this up must be a lunatic.’’

The East Belfast MLA added: ‘‘I believe this would be the ultimate insult to officers who are angry with Patten.

‘‘It would also be an insult to unionists, many of whom blame policing ills on him.’’