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

Call for PSNI barracks removal ahead of Policing Board Budget meeting

Published: 18 November, 2008

East Belfast Sinn Féin representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has called upon the Policing Board to move quickly to close Mountpottinger PSNI Barracks given that even the PSNI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, accepts that the barracks must go.


Mr Ó Donnghaile has made the call in advance of Thursday's Policing Board meeting which will discuss the Policing Budget.


Mr Ó Donnghaile said,

"Sinn Féin has long campaigned, along with the local community, for the removal of Mountpottinger Barracks. For those who have lived in the shadow of this Barracks it serves as a relic of intimidation, oppression and murder; in short it is a symbol of all that has been wrong with policing here over the years. On top of that, on a practical basis, the barracks is over a century old and lies in a dilapidated state.


"This barracks operates on a part-time basis and in the two year period between 2006 and 2008 the barracks was used by a mere 34 people. For the same two year period the cost of maintaining and providing security for the barracks amounted to over £240,000. Sinn Féin wants to see effective community policing, working to the benefit of all in the community. The figures speak for themselves, clearly the maintenance of this barracks does nothing to further the interests of effective, accountable community policing".


He concluded,

"PSNI officers whom I have questioned, at all levels, accept that this barracks is a waste of money and should go. Indeed, the Chief Constable Hugh Orde has stated this. What people within this community want is civic, accountable and effective policing. The retention of this militarised barracks does nothing to achieve this. I would therefore call upon the Policing Board to give serious consideration to the removal of this barracks. With Thursday's meeting focusing on the Policing budget, I think that it is appropriate that this issue be considered given that it has been exposed, time and time again, as a huge drain on the PSNI's financial resources".

CRÍOCH

Note to editors:

1. From the end of July 2007 until the end of July 2008 just 18 people actually used Mountpottinger Barracks, to produce papers and report lost property etc.

2. Between 2007 and 2008 £92,000 was spent on security guards at Mountpottinger Barracks.

3. Over the same period £30,000 was spent on the maintenance of the barracks.

4. Between April 2006 and April 2007 over £121,000 was spent on the barracks.

5. Between April 2006 and April 2007 the barracks was only used by 16 people.

6. PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has said publicly that PSNI officers do not want to work in Mountpottinger Barracks because of the conditions in it and that the barracks itself is a waste of money.