
CLLR EMMET DOYLE: Police Chief Refusing to Meet Council Unacceptable
Aontú Cllr for Derry, Emmet Doyle, has slammed the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the Policing Board after they both refused to attend Derry City and Strabane District Council to be held accountable for officers’ actions in the City.
Cllr Doyle:
“Councillors asked for the Chief Constable and the Chair of the Policing Board to come before Council following high profile events relating to policing in Derry. In the last few weeks a man has been shot and other civilians have been manhandled by officers.”
“Their refusal to attend is self-defeating and unacceptable. While they may cite the accountable measures in place for the PSNI, it seems that their direct accountability is not an option. We as community leaders are trying to address very serious problems and by refusing to come before Council, the Chief Constable and the Chair are demonstrating that the open and transparent means we are using to address these problems are not being taken seriously.”
“Despite the District Commander appearing before us next week, it is obvious there are issues with policing that need the attention of senior stakeholders. I urge them to reconsider and to understand what their refusal signals to our community.”