Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable has stood over the policing of the recent parading stand-off at Drumcree, as well as advice he gave to Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant.
Jon Boutcher said there has been no disorder amid the two-week stand-off, which he added “should be viewed positively by everyone”.
He also praised the response of his officers on the ground as “exemplary”.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (Liam McBurney/PA)
PA Wire
Earlier Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows expressed “grave concerns” about Mr Boutcher indicating to Sir Chris concerns about the political consequences of police potentially forcing the parade down the Garvaghy Road despite large gatherings of protesters.
Speaking at Stormont, Mr Burrows said it was “entirely legitimate” for the Chief Constable to cite operational reasons for why a parade in his view could not go ahead – cost, safety, public order.
“But to cite the survival of the Executive crossed a line that is simply political,” he said, adding he had requested an urgent meeting with Mr Boutcher.
“I am gravely concerned that he has crossed a line between politics and policing, and I need to look into the whites of his eyes and understand what he was thinking.”
UUP leader Jon Burrows (Liam McBurney/PA)
PA Wire
Mr Burrows stopped short of calling for consequences for Mr Boutcher, following a call by TUV leader Jim Allister for the Chief Constable to resign.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, Mr Boutcher said there has been “much commentary” since the bid for the Orange Order to finish its traditional Drumcree route along the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years.
The Chief Constable said that while the PSNI has been “mindful of the importance of facilitating the determination”, that “did not mean, as many people have suggested, that the police had to ensure the parade could proceed at all costs”.
“We planned and resourced for all potential outcomes from a peaceful procession through to serious and sustained disorder,” he said.
“From Sunday September 27 my officers were required to respond with a large-scale policing operation.
“The response of officers on the ground throughout has been exemplary.
“We have continually reviewed all options and engaged with all parties.”
Mr Boutcher said: “It was my ongoing assessment that short of a major public order operation, that would require substantial numbers of protected officers and specialist capabilities with a likelihood of prolonged disorder resulting in injuries to the public and officers, with an impact beyond Portadown, the parade could not be safely undertaken.”
He added: “Such a major public order operation would have presented risks to both parties and had long-term consequences for trust and confidence in policing and the peace process.
“The place for resolving this dispute must not be on the streets of Northern Ireland.”