Write a commentFollowing the publication of the South Armagh Policing Review earlier this week the PSNI Chief Constable, Simon Byrne has already sought to clarify some of the recommendations in the document.
Byrne held discussions with the Northern Ireland Policing Board, a range of political representatives.
He also met Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and a number of DUP representatives who told him of "deeply held community confidence concerns and their disillusionment arising from a series of policing issues in recent times."
In a statement Byrne said "I accept the importance of ensuring that there is widespread confidence in policing across all parts of our community. I reaffirmed my commitment to listening to unionist community concerns and rebuilding confidence.
"We will continue with genuine engagement to ensure that local concerns and feedback are captured."
Byrne says there is agreement on many of the operational policing improvements set out in the Review and added that no memorials will be removed from, or moved within, our buildings (Recommendation 6) and that it was never envisaged that there would be joint patrolling by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána.
Byrne said "The issue of hot pursuit will not be taken forward without the agreement of both governments. This recommendation will not, therefore, be progressed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
"We will continue to seek to maximise the co-operation between both organisations in tackling crime and road safety in the border area. All cooperation will respect and adhere to the jurisdictional requirements on both sides of the border (Recommendations 45/46).
"No action will be taken with regard to the use of Irish language unless it is in line with the approach being taken across the Northern Ireland public sector more widely (Recommendation 38).
"Further clarity will be provided in a time-scaled implementation plan to the Policing Board in the coming weeks."
