NCJ Number
79317
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 29 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1981) Pages: 36-43
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The recent history of the role and effectiveness of the police in Northern Ireland is outlined.
Abstract
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), whose numerical inadequacy contributed to the call for British Army reinforcements in Northern Ireland in 1969, regained an important law enforcement role in the mid-1970's with the British Government's decision to reestablish the primacy of law and order through conventional policing. The Army had forced the terrorists onto the defensive, and the RUC had made considerable progress in reestablishing a credible role in the community. It was not until the policy of criminalization of terrorist offenses received a boost with the ending of the unpopular internment without trial policy that the way was clear for further advances. Between 1975 and 1980, the strength of the RUC increased from 4,902 to 7,000, plus 4,750 part-time reservists. The number of soldiers deployed in police support fell from 15,000 to 11,000. Current practice is for the two forces to assess problems jointly and for the Army to perform tasks of a military nature, thus avoiding and an image of the RUC as a paramilitary organization. The RUC has established its own mobile divisional support group to reinforce its regular patrols in the event of a serious threat. In Belfast, five-person units randomly patrol the streets in armored trucks equipped with M.1 carbines and riot guns which fire plastic 'batons.' In the border country, team members are required to be exceptionally physically fit and highly proficient with firearms. Strong emphasis is placed on crime prevention and community relations. A special effort is given to developing community support for dealing with problems nonviolently in both the Protestant and Catholic populations. While there can be no police solution to Northern Ireland's problems, the police can do much to create a climate for peaceful resolution of many of the political and socioeconomic conflicts.