NORTHERN IRELAND: BELFAST: ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY POLICE FORCE

(28 May 1996) English/Nat

When politicians from Britain and Northern Ireland sit down in a fortnights time to debate the province's future, one of the most sensitive topics will be the future of the Northern Ireland Police Force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (R-U-C) .

Republicans want it disbanded. They say with only ten per cent of its membership being Roman Catholic its biased against them.

The RUC has had nearly 300 officers killed since political violence in Northern Ireland erupted more than 25 years ago.

APTV has talked to new recruits and long serving officers about the future of a force that may have to adapt to lasting peace.

These cadets, half-way through their course, are the latest batch of men and women who will become officers of the R-U-C.

It takes 18 months to get a place on this course, one of the toughest in the United Kingdom.

For years the R-U-C has been at the frontline of the sectarian violence that has racked Northern Ireland.

This violence, called the "Troubles", has cost 32,000 lives with nearly 300 of them R-U-C officers.

As this republican demonstration shows, working in a divided community causes divisions between the police and the public.

Of the 8,500 full time serving officers, only 10 percent are Catholic.

Republicans want an end to British-rule in Northern Ireland and want the R-U-C, a force they see as oppressors of the nationalist community, disbanded.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"At the moment it can be quite difficult going to different area, you are a new face, they don't know you, they don't know whether they can trust you or not. But with a bit of effort and a bit of time, I think the people will come to be able to approach you happily and have confidence that you will deal with their problems."
SUPER CAPTION: Colin Beattie, R-U-C recruit

In an R-U-C car-park, a role-playing exercise is one of the ways new recruits are taught how to deal with the public.

Here they approach a man suspected of tampering with cars.

Watching from the sidelines the training officer reviews progress.

The R-U-C itself is under review.

Deputy Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan admits it is an uncertain time for his officers.

He will have to adapt the structure and size of his force depending on whether there is peace in the province or a return to violence.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well for 25 years because of the vicious terrorist campaign we have had to operate from four to five police stations, we've had to drive armoured police vehicles, our officers even on foot patrol have had to wear body armour. So all of that created unwanted barriers between us and the community we serve. In a peaceful environment we want to work to be increasingly close to the community. We want to devise a whole network of policing areas where local police commanders have a high degree of autonomy to deliver a tailor made local policing service."
SUPER CAPTION: Ronnie Flanagan, Deputy Chief Constable, R-U-C

Although the R-U-C has not yet abandoned its armoured patrol vehicles, they have largely abandoned protecting the British army.

Before the I-R-A and Loyalist cease-fires, the police were flanked by British soldiers as they toured Belfast's estates.

And also before the ceasefire it would have been unthinkable for a local police officer to talk to a republican in the street.

UPSOUND: (Woman talking to R-U-C officer)
Elections is when Thursday? There is five votes out of here going to Sinn Fein. I never would have voted for them but I am voting for them this time.



SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Constable James Galloway


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