SDLP 'determined to stand up to threats'

The SDLP today expressed the determination of party members on local District Policing Partnerships in Northern Ireland to stand up against dissident republican threats and intimidation.

The party has more than 50 councillors sitting on the DPPs set up in the 26 district council regions six months ago to give local people more say in the policing of their areas.

In recent weeks a number of them, together with some independent Catholic DPP members, have been targeted in a campaign by the Real IRA which has so far led to three people quitting their posts.

However, after meeting at SDLP headquarters in Belfast today, members said they were determined to press ahead with their involvement in the partnerships.

Pat Mallon, chairman of the SDLP Association of Councillors, said: “DPP members, including SDLP councillors and members, are in the frontline of political and policing change. That is why they have been threatened and attacked.”

The meeting was “another expression of the resilience of people to stand by the DPPs and face down the dissidents.”

The meeting also discussed what the SDLP called far-reaching proposals for policing change and better policing in local districts.

They include:

:: More civilian jobs in local police stations to release more officers on to the ground.

:: Dedicated full-time crime units to tackle “profile crime” including attacks on the elderly and car crime.

:: Recruitment of 1,500 community police officers across Northern Ireland – of which 1,100 would be Catholic.

:: DPPs challenging Police Service chiefs to further reduce sickness levels among officers in each command area.

:: DPP/Police strategies on drug use, underage drinking and enforcement of drinking laws and hours.

:: The targeting of organised crime gangs in each locality.