Alderman Gerry Mullan was reacting to remarks made on a local radio station by Ex-Dup Unionist Councillor Leslie Cubitt who claimed in a local radio interview (Q102) that 'you need to have a criminal record to join the police these days'.
Alderman Mullan said: "Councillor Cubitt is clearly trying to curry favour by extreme and uncontrolled outbursts which do not relate to reality and rather than creating a new police service which is community-based and capable of winning the support of everyone he claims that the previous police force was much superior.
"This is a disgusting remark to make about officers serving in the new police service and highly offensive to every new recruit who has been selected after rigorous interview and examination not just on their academic achievements but also on their record in relation to the law.
"If I were a parent of one of the new generation of young police officers I would be extremely upset to learn that a local councillor who has made no contribution to creating a new environment would be making disparaging remarks about my child who is in no position to defend his or her character and background.
"I do hope these remarks are thoroughly investigated and reported on. How is any community expected to respect police officers when so-called political representatives are undermining them in the disgraceful way Mr Cubitt has done. Few, if any, mind him letting himself down but when he blackens the character of every police officer in the process then it is serious, very serious, and on reflection he should withdraw his scurrilous remarks."
In reply Councillor Leslie Cubitt said he would not be withdrawing the remarks.
He stated: "I am speaking of a police force which has been damaged due to the lowering of standards to meet the 50/50 recruitment policy. Young well qualified Protestants are finding it difficult to get employment on the police due to this 50/50 requirement.
"The creditability of the PSNI has been damaged because members of the force have been convicted of serious crimes and are still serving officers. I have family members who served on the police and I had great respect for the RUC. In the RUC if you were convicted of a crime you were sacked or if you had a conviction you were not eligible for recruitment to the force. That has changed and when there are 83 members of the police charged with offences and when convicted are still able to remain in the force this causes the public to lose respect for the PSNI."