Professionalism and impartiality of PSNI must be upheld – Buchanan

Commenting after raising the issue at a meeting of the Policing Board on Thursday, Mr Buchanan said:

‘‘The scenes on Sunday night in Camlough were unacceptable and I am pleased that the Chief Constable has since recognised that the behaviour of his officers lacked professionalism and impartiality.

Jon Boutcher has been keen to stress that no officer will be sacked, suspended or relocated. However, if those involved are found to have either broken the law or breached the PSNI Code of Ethics, then the public will rightly expect action to be taken. There can be no double standard in how allegations of careless and dangerous driving are dealt with. Those who uphold the law are equally subject to it. None of this should be swept under the carpet.

There must also be a robust investigation into the apparent security breach at Lurgan PSNI station, during which GAA flags were erected on the building. The Chief Constable’s suggestion that the incident took officers unaware is unlikely to fill those working and visiting local stations with confidence. Evidence gathering now underway must ultimately lead to action against those responsible.’’