Expect trouble: MI5 take over 'security' in NI

[seabhcan]

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaki ... king50.htm

MI5 takes charge of North's security

MI5 has taken charge of national security in Northern Ireland for the first time, it was revealed today. Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde handed over control to the British intelligence agency, which is opening a new £20 million office near Belfast.

The transfer of powers took place at midday on Wednesday, his office confirmed today. A spokesperson added: "All the necessary service level agreements are in place and this step brings the Police Service of Northern Ireland into line with the arrangements in all other UK police services."

[El Matador]

SDLP Policing Board member Dolores Kelly MLA said the transfer of so-called national security responsibility from the PSNI to MI5 is a significant setback in terms of accountability in policing.

She said:

“We worked hard for years to get agreement around two ground-breaking accountability mechanisms which made possible a new beginning in policing – the Policing Board and the Police Ombudsman. MI5 operates outside the control of these mechanisms and as far as the ordinary public and voters are concerned it is a law unto itself. Its complaints procedure is farcical in the extreme – not one single complaint against MI5 has ever been upheld.

“The question is whose national security they are going to protect. Certainly, all through our dirty war they were curiously blind to the threat coming from loyalist quarters. The British government declared more than a decade ago that it had ‘no selfish or strategic interest’ in Northern Ireland, but clearly this is no longer the case given the massive spy centre they have built at Holywood. Anyone looking at it can see that it far exceeds anything required to look after our security.

“Assurances that MI5 will not get involved in ‘civic policing’ are worthless. This was just a fig leaf thrown to Sinn Fein in wording designed by themselves to get them to agree to the transfer. We have no way of controlling what MI5 gets up to, even when they order PSNI officers around. The SDLP will continue to press for all those involved in any aspect of law enforcement to be subject to appropriate accountability procedures.”

[Cloigeann]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

[Aindriu]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

Or any political party? They are a rule to themselves.

[infamous-el-guapo]

I just want to thank Sinn Fein personally for effectively giving MI5 a free reign in the North.

The SDLP wanted all security action to be accountable to the Police Ombudsman but oh no, their stupid Brits Out mentality has blinded them to the reality of a situation. Again.

Seriously, well done

[Cloigeann]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

Or any political party? They are a rule to themselves.

Aren't they accountable to that aul doll german, Lizzie?

[Aindriu]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

Or any political party? They are a rule to themselves.

Aren't they accountable to that aul doll german, Lizzie?

No. She has no power in reality. They are accountable to the Home Secretary (in theory) but look at what they tried to do to Harold Wilson when he was in power?

[Cloigeann]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

Or any political party? They are a rule to themselves.

Aren't they accountable to that aul doll german, Lizzie?

No. She has no power in reality. They are accountable to the Home Secretary (in theory) but look at what they tried to do to Harold Wilson when he was in power?

She still has allot of power, just doesn't use it.

[infamous-el-guapo]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

Or any political party? They are a rule to themselves.

Aren't they accountable to that aul doll german, Lizzie?

No. She has no power in reality. They are accountable to the Home Secretary (in theory) but look at what they tried to do to Harold Wilson when he was in power?

She still has allot of power, just doesn't use it.

If the british queen ever used any power contrary to the will of the Parliament, it would immediately pass a law, stripping her of that power.

[joel]

[quote=infamous-el-guapo]

So what was the point of supporting the PSNI if now they are under MI5, which is in no way accountable and never will be to any of our political parties

Or any political party? They are a rule to themselves.

Aren't they accountable to that aul doll german, Lizzie?

No. She has no power in reality. They are accountable to the Home Secretary (in theory) but look at what they tried to do to Harold Wilson when he was in power?

She still has allot of power, just doesn't use it.

If the british queen ever used any power contrary to the will of the Parliament, it would immediately pass a law, stripping her of that power.[/quote:1nbvh2n0]


But the Queen IS the law, as far as I'm aware. Or rather, she is "above the law."