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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Press Statements

Orange Order Complains To Police Ombudsman Over Intrusive Surveillance

14 June 2005

Orangemen in East Belfast have made an official complaint to the Police Ombudsman about what they describe as "intrusive surveillance and harassment" by the PSNI.

They say that at least four police vehicles containing officers with hand-held video cameras targeted members of Orangefield Temperance L.O.L 1974 during their annual church parade on Sunday (12 June) from Templemore Avenue to Westbourne Presbyterian Church on the Newtownards Road. Orangemen were filmed getting in and out of their cars and registration numbers were recorded.

Raymond Spiers, Master of No 6 Ballymacarrett Orange District, who attended the event, said: "This was a small church parade involving just 150 people including the band. It was entirely peaceful with no protestors, and yet the PSNI chose to swamp the area with officers and more video cameras than I've ever seen before.

"The police deployment was way over the top. Their presence was heavy-handed and intrusive. I can only suppose that by cruising the streets filming individual Orangemen before and after the parade itself they were trying deliberately to intimidate us. If so, it's backfired: people in East Belfast are really angry at the PSNI's decision to step up their harassment ahead of the Twelfth.

"Instead of acting as the Parades Commission's poodle and bullying a few peaceful church-goers, Sir Hugh Orde should be using his officers to tackle the really serious crimes that continue to plague the Province."

In addition to complaining to the Police Ombudsman, the Orange Order has also raised the issue with East Belfast DUP MP Peter Robinson and UUP MLA Sir Reg Empey and asked them to investigate policing tactics in the area.

"The level of police surveillance we saw on Sunday was absolutely staggering," said Mr. Spiers. "One has to wonder if Peter Hain and the Northern Ireland Office have opted to use the PSNI to declare war on the Protestant people of East Belfast."

 

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