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Supporting the Police in a Divided SocietyAuthor(s): John HumeSource: Fortnight, No. 239 (May 19 - Jun. 1, 1986), pp. 7-8Published by: Fortnight Publications Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25550857 .

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SUPPORTING THE POLICE

IN A DIVIDED SOCIETY In the wake of recent loyalist attacks against the police?what is the SDLP's position on the RUC? Here, party leader JOHN HUME writes about policing in a divided society and says the police should be supported if they enforce the law impartially.

THE SDLFs position on policing has been consistent and clear. Although it has been the subject of criticism and attack by every other political party in Northern

Ireland, it is of course not a statement of a

party political nature. It is a statement of

the normal position on policing that ob

tains in every democratic society. The fact

that it has not obtained in Northern Ire land is not a commentary on individual

members of the RUC (except insofar as

they allow their personal political preju dices to intrude into the performance of their duties) but a commentary on the ab

sence of a truly democratic consensus.

Put simply, the basis of law and order in

any democratic society is democratic con

sensus. It is the general acceptance by the

population as a whole of their system of

government. This is so self-evident that it

should not need stating. When such ac

ceptance is present most people in society

simply regard the police as "their" police and the only problem that emerges is when individual police officers themselves

transgress either the law or the acceptable code of practice.

When there is division in society about the system of government as there is in

Northern Ireland then there is a serious

problem of law and order and the likeli hood is that the police will be regarded by

the dominant grouping as "their" police and be treated by the minority with a great deal of distrust. This position was greatly intensified in Northern Ireland by the very

nature of Unionist power in the old Stor mont system and its total identification with sectarian solidarity.

It was made even worse by the fact that under Stormont, Catholics were not par

ticularly welcome in the RUC or in any other institutions of state, as the often quoted figures for discrimination show. Those who did join found it very difficult indeed, before the Civil Rights move

ment, to rise to any great heights of office within the force. This SDLP view of the situation has been solidly confirmed by the events of the past few months when it has becqme very clear that a substantial sec

tion of the community regard the police as "their" police and a body that exists to do "their" bidding and no one else's.

In those circumstances the only role that can and ought to be pledged by a political party is to work for the basic political con sensus that is the bedrock of law and order in any democratic society. In the mean

time, while that consensus is being sought, support should be given to the police in

impartially and even handedly upholding the rule of law.

In the circumstances of Northern Ire

Police landrovers under attack by loyalists in Portadown

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_SDLP leader John

Hume_^

land, and with particular regard to the bit terness engendered by past events, this is not only a positive and constructive posi

tion, it is an extremely generous one. It is

also a position that shows true concern for

peace and order by going to the heart of the matter and by refusing to be deflected even when one's critics are well meaning.

In practice the SDLP has not only ver

bally upheld that position but has worked to achieve it. We believe that the Anglo Irish Agreement creates the framework in

which democratic consensus can be devel

oped. It is not an Agreement which gives victory to one side or the other. For the

first time it recognises the validity of both traditions. Unionists would appear to find that unacceptable. In addition, in the

short term, the Anglo-Irish Conference

has committed itself to addressing im

mediate questions that affect the public attitudes to law and order and we in the

SDLP are encouraging them to do so as

quickly as possible. I refer to the adminis

tration of justice, the supergrass system,

police complaints procedures, and the re

lationship between the security forces and the community as a whole.

On the basis of equality, we believe that

every citizen should be willing to play the fullest possible part in all institutions of state in the North of Ireland including in stitutions of law and order. We do not

believe that playing such a part is an end in itself but is a means and perhaps the only

continued overleaf

Fortnight 19th May 7

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Hume on the RUC continued from page 7

means of tackling the real problems of

bigotry, intolerance, and prejudices which divide the people here. From that division comes all our other problems of injustice and violence which have disfigured this island for centuries. All the list of com

plaints that are regularly produced are in

reality symptoms of this deeper problem. Until we cure this disease the symptoms will keep recurring.

The only peaceful road to tackling this

problem, which appears to the SDLP, is to work together as equals to build this

society and through that to diminish the

prejudice and distrust and replace it with trust and confidence. Through that pro cess will evolve new relationships which

respect diversity not only within the North but within this island and between Ireland and Britain which will be the only final

guarantee of peace and stability. And it will not be easy.

The real test of course is whether Unionists want the rest of us to play any meaningful role in this society or whether

they have any interest in addressing the central problem of divisions. Till now their attitude has been to exclude those with whom they disagree, "all power in our own hands", "what we have we hold"?in ess

ence 'ourselves alone'. But these are ques tions for politicians not for policemen.

In the meantime the only role for a

police officer in a divided society such as this is to implement the law impartially

and even handedly. And in a divided

society in spite of his own natural feelings and loyalties to recognise that his profes sional duty demands that he respect both traditions equally. If he does so he will have the support of the SDLP.

"Nothing so concentrates

the mind as the prospect of being hung

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