UUP meets with Secretary of State to discuss Policing and Community Justice Schemes
This morning at Stormont Castle UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey MLA led a delegation including Alan McFarland MLA and Fred Cobain MLA to meet with the Secretary of State.
Among the issues discussed were Policing, Restorative Justice, and other Criminal Justice issues of concern.
Sir Reg impressed upon the Secretary of State that the Government should resist any and all attempts to allow community justice schemes to be any substitute for proper policing.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“We acknowledge that properly run community justice schemes that co-operate with the police have an important and valuable role to play.
However, we impressed upon the Secretary of State our concerns that republicans may try for schemes that do not involve the police. This would be vigilantism and we cannot have a situation where vigilantes are running their own areas out-with police involvement or input.”
UUP Chief Negotiator Alan McFarland added,
“We welcomed the Secretary of State’s commitment to the Preparation for Government Committee and look forward to a constructive engagement on Policing and Justice matters in the weeks ahead.”