PSNI trainees issued with personal protection weapons

New recruits to the PSNI are being issued with personal protection weapons following an assessment of the threat posed by paramilitary organisations.

In one of his last acts as Acting Chief Constable, Colin Cramphorn advised the Policing Board Chairman Professor Desmond Rea that there was a significant threat from dissident republicans. Those comments have been taken on board and a PSNI spokesperson said last night that weapons had already been issued to some recruits. The spokesperson added that further applications from recruits would be considered.

"Some student officers have been issued with personal protection weapons because of an increased terrorist threat," the spokesperson said.

"Because of the level of threat against them, if any student officers apply for personal protection weapons their applications will be dealt with as soon as possible."

Prof Rea has described threats made against student police officers as "appalling".

“Obviously we would prefer to be in a situation where such a measure was not necessary but that it not the reality. The safety of all officers within the service must be of the utmost priority," he said.

“The real answer is that these threats should stop and all police officers should be allowed to get on with their job – which is after all serving the community.”

There has been a rise in dissident republican activity of late and, most recently, police arrested two men outside Newry in relation to the transportation of car bombs across the border on September 17.

However, trainees have been targeted in the past, and a Catholic recruit in Antrim escaped injury in April after a car bomb was discovered beneath his car. A week earlier, the Real IRA admitted to planting a device which damaged the perimeter fence of the Garnerville police training college.

The SDLP's policing spokesman, and Policing Board member, Alex Attwood said: "It is hardly proper that personal protection weapons are being made available to those trainees who wish to carry a weapon. This is an appropriate measure to provide reassurance to new recruits. It is essential that those who are responsible for threats are pursued and that all stand against intimidation.

He added that he met with 40 new recruits to the service last night and was impressed by their "commitment" to policing and desire to serve the community.

(GMcG)