Stray Bullets

Some points in response to a number of queries / comments about police management of sexual offenders. I've spoke about this subject over a number of proceeding episodes, so I'll keep it as succinct as I can and try not to repeat anything (not easy, but …).

Also in this episode I'm only touching very, very, briefly upon a very current issue which has yet again brought the PSNI (and British Intelligence) under the spotlight, that of the illegal surveillance of Barry McCaffrey's and Trevor Birney's communications, amongst others. Thankfully a PSNI CC, namely John Boucher, has once again shown integrity and professionalism (sadly lacking in a number of previous CC's (both PSNI and RUC) under whose watch such systems of incompetence and autonomy were allowed to take root and infect procedural mechanisms. I've a feeling there's more to come from 4QE!        

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The concluding (for now) episode in which I discuss the experience of catholic officers in the RIC, RUC and PSNI. 

Bibliography

Breen, R, Beliefs about the treatment of Catholics and Protestants by the Security Forces, in R. Breen, P. Devine and G. Robinson (eds), Social Attitudes in Northern Ireland: The Fourth Report, Appletree Press, Belfast, 1995

Bourdieu, P. Language and Symbolic Power, Polity Press, Cambridge, 1991

Cullen, F. Visual Politics: The Representation of Ireland 1750 - 1930, Cork University Press, Cork, 1997 

Ellison, G. Professionalism in the Royal Ulster Constabulary: an examination of the institutional discourse, (unpublished D.Phil. thesis), University of Ulster, 1997 

McGarry, J. and O'Leary, B. Policing Northern Ireland: Proposals for a New Start, Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1999.

Mulcahy, A. The Dynamics of the Police Legitimation Process in Northern Ireland, (unpublished PhD thesis, Arizona State University, 1998

Ruane, J. and Todd, J. The Dynamics of Conflict in Northern Ireland, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996

One of PSNI’s first Catholic recruits quits in dismay: ‘I regret joining… I just feel scarred by it’ 

Northern Ireland’s police service faces anti-Catholic discrimination cases

Ex-PSNI officer who now says he lied about sectarianism restated his views after bizarre exchange

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Just a few more RUC memories stirred by recent news.

Food delivery driver allegedly threatened and racially abused before footage appeared on TikTok, court hears

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Continuing my look at the experience of catholic officers within policing in Northern Ireland. In this episode I begin to look at issues which may affect recruitment from the Nationalist / Republican community.

In the following episode I will continue this topic (and most likely conclude same), but with a more in-depth look at some of the selection processes involved when applying to become a PSNI recruit, as well as  a few more anecdotes about the job.          

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The recent 'Hoover-Gate' news report brought back some old memories, as well as a look at the ongoing strategy used to delay and (sometimes) derail being disciplined or summoned to court as a defendant.

I should mention also, though, that it's a strategy found in other police service's too.

Top police officer facing possible sack retires before misconduct hearing

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Cursory thoughts about some of the rot affecting youth culture in working-class protestant areas of Belfast and the cinema of adoration through hate. Upon reflection there's probably more I could have put into - and further expanded upon - in this episode, but time was against me and I didn't want it to run on too long. My early episodes about Belfast look more at territorial spaces and the episode about Loyalist communities may also be of interest.    

TikTok bans Belfast vigilante group’s videos as PSNI labels its actions ‘racism, pure and simple’

Vigilante groups targeting migrants in street patrols in Belfast ‘greatly concerning’

Bibliography

Taylor, S. Responding to Racist Incidents and Racist Crimes in Ireland: An Issue Paper for the Equality Authority, Dublin, Equality Authority, 2011

Ramsey, P. and Waterhouse-Bradley, B. Cultural Policy in Northern Ireland: making cultural policy for a divided society, in The Routledge Handbook of Global Cultural Policy, Abingdon: Routledge, 2018

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Listen to the Catholic Police Officers in the RIC, RUC and PSNI Part IV episode prior to this - I just wanted to expand upon an anecdote I spoke (briefly) about in the above episode.   

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The fourth instalment in which I discuss the experiences of Catholic Police Officers in the RIC, RUC and PSNI.

Click on the link below - it'll make more sense after listening to this episode. 

Many thanks!  Isolation    

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A brief preamble.  

Catholic Police Officers in the RIC, RUC and PSNI Part III will follow in the next Stray Bullets instalment, due very soon!

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An unexpected interlude. I had planned to bridge episode II and III of 'Catholic Police Officers in the RIC, RUC and PSNI' with a trailer, but unplanned events look set to overtake me and, as such, I'm unsure now of the possible duration between II and III.

In the meantime - time of mean-spiritedness - I couldn't ignore the latest disgrace in our ignoble history, that of Goldsprings of Comber LOL opposition to a local cross-community event hosting children from ten different cultural backgrounds, one being from a GAA sporting background.

Below are some links illuminating the debacle to date:

This was about Sport – for Kids

Cricket bodies 'dismayed' over halted summer camp

Little-Pengelly ‘saddened and disappointed’ by cancellation of sport summer camp

The GAA wolf may wrap itself in the sheep of children, but it is still a wolf

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