The Army in any part of these islands is a backup to the Civil Power, the Police will decide what level of support it needs from the Armed Forces. During the troubles it was common for the Irish Army to accompany Gardaí on patrol. The Sovereign Government of the UK is still the Parliament in Westminster, as such it does not issue "diktats" any more than the Dáil issues diktats in the Republic.Setanta wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:26 pm When did stormont agree or have input upon the measures for British soldiers backing up the police force??,this is a dictat from Westminster....famously shinners come under a sticky wicket for having to vote to have the RAF deliver hay to isolated sheep in mountains...but they have no say as regards the deployment of soldiers to back up sweeps/searches around attacks?
A few weeks ago,there was a (thankfully) failed attack on a psni vehicle in Strabane,and the psni/soldiers held an estate of roughly 1000 people in what was effectively an open air prison where noone was allowed enter/leave for to attend school's/hospital,and never issued an apology to that community or noone holds em to account for this carryon either.....the psni are at a dangerous junction,people can see their carryon isnt appropriate or porportionate and noone is being held or holding em to account
(take for instance their saturation policing of perceived threat and contrast with their leaking of info of contractors who were to remove a bonfire in Belfast to the uvf)...I don't see the point for these policing boards,if they are simply to rubber-stamp and cheerlead for the police?
I remember the incident in Strabane, I'm also pretty sure I remember a senior Police Officer apologising on TV for the disruption but perhaps we don't
watch the same channels, I also remember him saying that they had reason to believe that other devices might be planted in the area. Is this what you call holding the area to ransom?
I'm not not sure what point you're trying to make in the last paragraph, I wasn't aware of any leak to the UVF which is a serious allegation which should really be taken to the authorities, or to your point on the policing boards , which, up to now, haven't been mentioned.
