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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has taken (a) to inform parade organisers that it is their responsibility to ensure the good behaviour of supporters and followers of parades and (b) to instruct his officers to have regard for the behaviour of supporters and followers, and to regard them as participants for the purposes of securing compliance with a determination of the Parades Commission. [213302] Mr. Pearson: The information is as follows. (a) PSNI provide a copy of the Parades Commission's code of conduct to parade organisers when they present the Parade Application Form 11/1 at a police station. The code of conduct sets out clearly that the onus is on organisers to ensure the good behaviour of supporters and followers. Police have a general order which contains guidelines on the planning process in the run up to a parade. In December 2002, an amendment was made to the general order which states that "police evidence to the commission will include evidence of efforts by the Police Service to work with parade organisers and/ or representatives of the involved neighbourhoods in the planning process." This has emphasised the work which police carry out in an area during the run up to a parade. (b) PSNI take appropriate action to police Parades Commission's determinations. Where conditions have included the behaviour of supporters and followers the police take account of these.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1422-3W;432 c1418-9W; 213302

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Codes of practice Northern Ireland Police Public order Parades Police Service of Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk