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Blair says criticism of police response to flute band incident risks fuelling false notions

Alliance Policing Board member John Blair MLA has said unionist parties criticising the police response to a flute band who wore Parachute Regiment insignia at a parade in Derry-Londonderry risks undermining the work of the PSNI and fuelling false notions of two-tier policing.

Mr Blair was speaking after the DUP and UUP met with police following the incident at the weekend, when Clyde Valley Flute band from Larne wore the symbol and the letter F at the Apprentice Boys parade in the city this past weekend. Police officers escorted the flute band during it and later stopped their bus.

“It is vital everyone in our society supports policing and the rule of law,” said Mr Blair.

“The way the DUP and UUP are approaching the police response to this incident and their public comments surrounding it are fuelling false perceptions of two-tier policing in which one side of the community is treated differently.

“Our society has come a long way with the new beginning to policing. Accountability is vital to policing but politicians need to be careful not to cross over to undermining policing. The DUP and UUP need to acknowledge this one band were wrong to parade with Parachute Regiment insignia in Derry-Londonderry, given the context and legacy of Bloody Sunday.

“Such politically opportunistic actions are not helpful to policing across the community, particularly given other recent events. Politicians should know better than play to the gallery at times when sensitivities are to the fore.”

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Blair welcomes DAERA natural environment push

Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA has welcomed the creation of a new £400,000 environment fund by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), aiming to more easily connect people to the natural environment.

The Environmental Challenge Competition is open to local councils and not-for-profit organisations who want to apply for funding for local projects such as new paths, trails and greenways. The fund is also open to applicants wanting to purchase land for the management and protection of habitats and species as well as for the use of technology to improve outdoors access.

Applications for funding close at noon on Tuesday 27 August.

Responding to the announcement, John Blair MLA said, “This is welcome news from DAERA, which provides an opportunity for local councils and others to work, hopefully engaging the community, to enhance our local environment and protect natural habitats.”

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Stormont House proposals best way of dealing with legacy, Blair tells Chief Constable

The Stormont House Agreement proposals are the best way of dealing with the legacy of the past, Alliance MLA John Blair has told the new PSNI Chief Constable.

Alliance Policing Board member Mr Blair was speaking after attending an introductory meeting with Simon Byrne, alongside party colleagues Stephen Farry MLA and Councillor Sorcha Eastwood.

Mr Blair said it was a good opportunity to examine policing priorities and strategies under the new leadership, on issues such as legacy, Brexit, the ongoing terrorist threat, policing in the community and others.

“While we raised many matters with the Chief Constable, foremost among them was the legacy of the past and the Stormont House Agreement proposals relating to it. We shared our concern with him that legacy, which remains a policing responsibility, is more in need of those solutions than it has ever been. We were also able to give him our assurance Alliance will continue to work to achieve the realistic and fair solutions contained in Stormont House.

“In addition, we were able to set out our positon on the vital need for a police service which is truly representative of today’s society and how policing, reaching every sector of that society, feeds directly to confidence in policing overall.

“Other matters were also discussed, including challenges to policing under the no deal Brexit now almost being championed by the Conservative leadership contenders and how PCSPs can work better in bringing police closer to all communities.

“I hope the Chief Constable takes onboard the issues raised and sets out his priorities for the years ahead accordingly. We wish him well in doing so.”

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Pressing need to clearly define hate crime legislation, says Alliance

There is a pressing need to clearly define hate crime legislation in Northern Ireland, Alliance representatives have told a senior judge carrying out a review of the issue.

John Blair MLA and Kellie Armstrong MLA were speaking after meeting with Judge Desmond Marrinan to discuss his independent review of hate crime, with the goal of making the reporting and sentencing procedure more easily understood. A full consultation is expected in October, with recommendations expected to be published in May 2020.

“This constructive meeting was ahead of Alliance’s formal response to the upcoming consultation,” said Mr Blair.

“Alliance believes we need to clearly define hate crime and put steps in place to recognise both the seriousness of these crimes through appropriate recording and sentencing. We encouraged Judge Marrinan to consider, where appropriate, restorative measures to enable individual and societal change.”

His colleague Kellie Armstrong MLA said she encouraged people to participate in the consultation when it is released.

“We confirmed with the judge we support the inclusion of crimes against transgender people, age and those that are sectarian alongside race, gender, disability and sexual orientation within hate crime legislation.

“We also want to see the team working on the review work with the social inclusion and diversity team to ensure all strategies are aligned with the outcomes.”

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Hyperbolic rhetoric offers nothing but divisions, says Blair

“Hyperbolic rhetoric” from Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson will do nothing but divide our society further, Alliance MLA John Blair has said.

Mr Blair was speaking after Ms Anderson’s speech at a hunger strike commemoration rally in Strabane, in which she said the UK Government’s “days were numbered in Ireland,” “you will not be closing our roads…blocking our bridges…reinforcing partition,” before ending with “tiocfaidh ar la”.

“These are deeply unhelpful comments from Martina Anderson that will do nothing but divide our society further,” he said.

“For anyone in our society who identifies as British and who is told by Sinn Féin they will be welcome in a united Ireland, this speech will be seen as nothing but offensive and hyperbolic rhetoric. For others, they will see this as inflammatory language which will not help the talks to restore the Assembly.

“People have a right to remember their dead respectfully but this was not that. This will have done nothing to move our community forward or heal the hurt felt by so many across all sections of our society.

“Martina Anderson needs to show more respect and display leadership, stepping away from verbal outbursts designed to aid confrontation and recall years of conflict. She should apologise and recognise the hurt her comments will have caused.”