PUBLIC SERVICES (FROM VIOLENCE AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND, 1978 BY JOHN DARBY AND ARTHUR WILLIAMSON - SEE NCJ-56136)

• NCJ Number: 56138
• Author(s): B WHITE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Heinemann Educational Books, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

TERRORIST ATTACKS ON PUBLIC SERVICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE DESCRIBED, AND MEANS OF DEALING WITH AND RECOVERING FROM THESE ATTACKS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

TERRORIST ATTACKS ON UTILITY FACILITIES, WITHHOLDING OF UTILITY PAYMENTS BY DISGRUNTLED GROUPS, AND ATTACKS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES, FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES, NEWSPAPERS, AND RESTAURANT AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TERRORIST STRATEGY TO CREATE GENERAL INSTABILITY, SHAKE CITIZENS' CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT, AND STIMULATE OPPRESSIVE REACTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT THAT WILL ANGER THE CITIZENRY. DIFFERENT SERVICES RESPONDED TO THE ATTACKS IN DIFFERENT WAYS ACCORDING TO THE DECISIONS OF THE LEADER. IN GENERAL, THE DECISION WAS MADE EARLY BY THE NORTHERN IRELAND ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE SERVING THE PUBLIC REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL OR FINANCIAL COSTS. SOME SERVICES, SUCH AS ELECTRICITY AND GAS, PUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES FIRST AND MINIMIZED RISKS BY LEAVING IT TO THE EMPLOYEES' DISCRETION WHETHER TO GO INTO TROUBLED AREAS. THIS POLICY HAS RESULTED IN SIZEABLE FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF BILLS WHERE IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS FOR EMPLOYEES TO ENTER AN AREA TO CUT OFF GAS OR POWER. OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS ULSTERBUS, ACCEPTED THAT PRESERVATON OF THEIR SERVICE REQUIRED EMPLOYEE RISK. BUSES CONTINUED IN OPERATION EVEN WHEN DAMAGED, AND VEHICLES DEEMED EXPENDABLE WERE USED IN 'HIGH RISK' AREAS. SECURITY MEASURES WERE INCREASED, AND ATTEMPTS WERE MADE, MANY OF THEM SUCCESSFUL, TO REACH AGREEMENTS WITH TERRORISTS CONCERNING CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SERVICES COULD OPERATE WITHOUT FEAR OF ATTACK. THE FIRE SERVICES AND SOME OF THE MEDIA SERVICES ATTEMPTED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL TOWARD THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS. WHILE STANDARDS OF SERVICE HAVE SLIPPED AND SECURITY HAS INCREASED GREATLY WITH ATTENDANT INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC, THIS SITUATION HAS BECOME AN ACCEPTED FACT OF LIFE SO LONG AS PUBLIC EXPLANATIONS ARE CLEAR AND ACCURATE. THIS MAINTAINING OF PUBLIC SERVICES HAS ONLY BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE PARAMILITARY TERRORIST FORCES HAVE SOUGHT LIMITED OBJECTIVES AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED TOTAL SUPPORT IN SECURITY MATTERS AND FINANCIAL COMPENSATION. (RCB)