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PSNI Twelfth crowd control 'lacked commonsense'
THE Chief Marshall City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge, David Ramsay, has condemned the policing of last Monday's return Twelfth parade through the city centre
Mr Ramsey, who has been involved in marshalling parades for about 20 years and holds an NVQ level 3 in spectator control, said the tactics used by the police to control two rival gangs of protesters had lacked 'commonsense', and had put civilian marshals in danger.
Trouble flared in The Diamond area as the return parade, a colour party, three bands, and City Lodge members, returned to The Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall via Carlisle Road, Bishop Street Within and Society Street. Rival groups had gathered and traded spits and insults as the parade approached and as it passed, bandsmen and Nationalists became involved in incidents of abuse.
"Over the years I have along with other senior marshals built up a very good relationship with a number of bodies including the police and also I have been involved in a lot of stewarding duties raising monies for charity. It has come to the stage where I have no option but to challenge the police in their crowd control tactics in the city when the local orders march home at night," Mr Ramsey said.
He said that his training had taught him to be pro-active.
"I feel the police either don't want to use basic crowd control tactics or there is something else we are not being told. From marshalling many football matches I see the situation in Ferryquay Street no different from what can happen in football matches, if not properly managed. No matter how well rival fans get on before a match they are always segregated in the stadium as tempers can rise during a match. The trick is that they are not within spitting or reaching distance. Surely this is the only way to control the rival crowds in Ferryquay Street? This to me is commonsense," he said.
Acknowledging that a band member had been arrested arising out of the incident on Monday, Mr Ramsey said: "Since then I have had several witnesses tell me that two men got out of a taxi and organised children to abuse the parade while the police stood and watched. Surely this is not proper management of what was obviously a planned attack on the parade and witnessed by the police?"
The Chief Marshal continued: The witnesses I have spoken to said that before someone reacted the spittles were like rain fall on the parade, the band member was actually spat on the face. In all the years I have marshalled spitting has been by far the most provocative gesture towards anyone and speaking to leaders within the Orange Order and Apprentice Boys they too admitted that they would find it very difficult not to react to such provocation.
"In any event where opposing factions are within arms length is a recipe for disaster no matter were in the world this happens. I am finding it more and more difficult to marshal such situations because marshals are becoming more and more nervous about their own safety and the safety of those on parade," he said.
He continued: "The question has to be asked what will need to happen before proper crowd control is implemented. I stood in Ferryquay Street on Monday with provocateurs breathing down my neck and it is not a nice experience; the marshals are there as volunteers and their safety is paramount but the police tactics are putting our marshals in extreme danger.
"The Apprentice Boys have also informed me that the police are refusing to put in place practical crowd control on August 8 in which the marshals will be trying for a solid three hours to prevent reaction from those on parade as they are continually spat on, this is not a position that any volunteer should be put under."
He added that he and his colleagues had marshalled through some of the worst times of the Troubles, but noted that rival groups were segregated, out of reach of each other and the marshals.
"Everyone knows that it is a small minority within the city who want to disrupt the parades; the marshals can't understand how these people are allowed so close to something they hate."
Responding to Mr Ramsey's comments, PSNI Area Commander Chief Inspector Chris Yates said: "Unfortunately, the behaviour of a small number of band members and their supporters during the return parade last Monday fell a good deal short of that expected, as did the provocative behaviour of some of those opposed to the parade. This should not detract from the good work that has gone on over the last number of years to normalise these events.
"One man has been charged in relation to these matters and other investigations remain open, therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further at this time. With regard to the up-coming Apprentice Boys parade, police will continue to work with everyone involved to ensure events pass ofrf peacefully.
"Where there is potential for disorder or evidence of any wrongdoing my officers will not hesitate to deal with the situation in an appropriate manner."
The Chief Marshall's comments were backed by the PUP, whose local spokesman, Leslie Mitchell said "so-called republicans have gone out of their way to travel to the area".
He said that the current style of policing could see problems "spiral out of control".
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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