South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

"PSNI must move quicker to get rid of armoured Landrovers in South Belfast" - Parker

Published: 10 November, 2008

Balmoral Sinn Féin representative, and member of the South Belfast DPP, Vincent Parker has said that if we are to have effective civic policing, with the confidence of the whole community, then more must be done to ensure that the Patten recommendations in relation to the replacement of armoured Landrovers by patrol cars are implemented as soon as possible.


Mr Parker was speaking after the issue was raised at Tuesday's South Belfast District Policing Partnership meeting.


Mr Parker said,

"For too long the experience of policing for many here has been of a highly militarised force. The Patten report recognised the barriers that such a perception would have to the development of a successful, civic, police service here. That is why the report made a number of recommendations in relation to the replacement of armoured Landrovers by patrol cars.


"Not only does the continuing use of armoured Landrovers create the wrong perception of policing here for many people, the Landrovers themselves are more expensive to maintain and service".


"Despite claims to the contrary, the reality is that the PSNI in South Belfast are not fully compliant with Patten recommendation 55. In addition to this, the PSNI's contention that armoured Landrovers are only used 'for public order and nightlife duty', was shown to be untrue. The PSNI needs to win the confidence of the public; the use of armoured Landrovers, enhancing the perception of many that they are a militarised force, does not help them to do this".


He concluded,

"While I am encouraged by the fact that the PSNI have stated that they are strategically committed to implementing the Patten recommendations in this regard, and I acknowledge the work done to date; the reality is that there remains much more work to be done in this field. Work which must be carried out speedily". CRÍOCH

Note to Editors:

Patten Recommendation 55: Police cars should continue to be substituted as patrol vehicles in place of armoured landrovers, and the use of armoured landrovers should be limited to threatening situations.


Patten Recommendation 56: As soon as possible (that is, as soon as the incidence of deployment ceases to be regular) armoured landrovers should be moved to depots, to be kept in reserve for use in public order policing for as long as this contingency may be required.