West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

SF will oppose SDLP Special Branch Plans

Published: 17 August, 2010

Sinn Fein councillor Sean Clarke has said that his party will actively oppose SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie's plan for a Special Branch to operate within the PSNI.

Mr Clarke said:

"Sinn Féin have worked consistently for many years to a new beginning to policing. One of the major issues during this time was the operation of the Special Branch within the policing structures. A force within a force so to speak, who were unaccountable and untouchable.

"The decision to remove MI5 from policing structures and the disbandment of the Special branch was essential in getting the nationalist and Republican community to engage with policing structures in the north.

"When Margaret Ritchie calls for intelligence gathering to be located within the PSNI what she actually means is a return to the past.

"The policing structures in the north should be freed from the damaging influence of MI5. Sinn Fein has worked consistently and actively on bringing this about. We will oppose any attempt by the SDLP to re-introduce their influence.


"The PSNI must be held to account and the mechanisms currently in place for this cannot be contaminated by malign influences. Furthermore I find it astonishing that Margaret Richie and the SDLP have become cheerleaders for British spooks and their desire to pollute civic policing here. CRÍOCH