He was joined by East Belfast DUP MLA Joanne Bunting, who is also Chair of Stormont’s Justice Committee, North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, as well as Policing Board members Keith Buchanan MLA and Cheryl Brownlee MLA.
Commenting afterwards, Trevor Clarke said:
‘‘The violence witnessed on our streets in recent days was unacceptable and cannot be justified. We have been unequivocal that anyone engaging in public disorder, whether it be in Ballymena, Portadown, Larne or Londonderry, should be held fully accountable for their actions.
At the same time, everyone must be equal under the law and equally subject to it. Where police officers are attacked, property damaged and homes attacked, the criminal justice response must be fair and consistent, irrespective of the motivation or background of those involved.
In particular, the deployment of baton rounds (AEPs), should not be dictated by how such measures might be perceived by those on the receiving end, including those from republican or nationalist communities. Although the Chief Constable has indicated that the fear of complaints is no longer a factor in these decisions, we remain to be convinced that this has been played out on the ground during recent riots.”
DUP East Belfast MLA and Justice Spokesperson Joanne Bunting added:
‘’The threat posed to officers and members of the public from flying masonry or petrol bombs does not change depending on whether public disorder is sectarian or racially motivated. Therefore it seems rational that police objections should carry the same weight in all of these cases.
Yet it has emerged that those arrested in connection with disturbances in Ballymena were remanded while those from Londonderry received court bail, despite police objections.
This fuels a perception that the judiciary has chosen to distinguish between race riots and sectarian riots in terms of their seriousness. The decision not to grant bail for recent public disorder offences also sits uncomfortably, and somewhat ludicrously, with separate decisions to afford murder suspects bail.
Local communities do not, and will not, accept the appearance of a two-tier justice system. The PSNI, the PPS, the courts, and the Minister of Justice all have obligations in this regard. They must not bury their heads in the sand or dismiss legitimate concerns as whataboutery.’’