DUP, Alliance, UUP and SDLP condemn threats aimed at prison officers and PSNI

The leaders of four Northern Ireland political parties have released a joint statement opposing intimidation of prison officers and the PSNI. The statement was made in response to a videos on social media showing Northern Ireland Prison Service recruitment posters being removed from bus stops in Belfast and Londonderry by members of a republican group. The video also shows posters opposing the PSNI being put up.

The republican group Lasair Dhearg posted videos of the poster removals on its social media.

The joint statement was released by DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie and Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP. It said: “We are aware of video footage showing individuals removing prison service recruitment advertisements and posting anti-PSNI posters. “We offer our full support to all those working within these services, and to the recruitment process under way within the Prison Service. “There can be no place for those who engage in threats or intimidation towards those who serve the community as prison officers or within the PSNI. “Those engaging in such tactics do not speak for the people who we represent as political leaders. “We encourage everyone in our society to consider the PSNI and the NI Prison Service as valuable career opportunities.”

Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill's name does not appear on the joint statement from the party leaders

However, On Friday Sinn Féin policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly hit out against attempts to intimidate the Alliance councillor Michael Long after he spoke out against sectarian and Nazi symbols associated with a loyalist bonfire.

He said: "Intimidation and hate crime is absolutely wrong, whether it is associated with bonfires or flags being used to intimidate or mark out territory, or the destruction of prison service posters in Derry.

“Everyone in this society should be able to carry out their work free from intimidation and harassment and the PSNI must do all in its power to bring those responsible for hate crime and intimidation before the courts.”

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