N. IRELAND: RUC WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE OF THE FORCE

(22 May 1998) English/Nat

If the people of Northern Ireland support the Good Friday Agreement on Friday, one of the changes in the province might be its police force.

The British government is to appoint a commission to review the role and structure of the predominantly Protestant police.

It has created an air of uncertainty over the Royal Ulster Constabulary - the RUC.

In a rare move, APTV was allowed to canvass the opinions of RUC officers as they went about their daily patrols.

The officers of the RUC have been in the front line during the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland.

Many have lost their lives.

Most officers with the Royal Ulster Constabulary are Protestants - and became targets for Republican terrorist groups.

If the peace deal agreed on Good Friday is supported by the people of Northern Ireland in a referendum, the British government has agreed to review the future of the RUC.

That is welcomed by many in the Catholic community, who believe a police force for the province must not be perceived as having a political stance.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, I don't think it's a matter of wanting the RUC disbanded. They want a new policing service that will be acceptable for all sections of the community. You have to remember the RUC is 93 per cent Protestant and 100 per cent Unionist. There's been a long history of antagonism between the Catholic nationalist community and the RUC as a force. The RUC themselves know they're unacceptable to people in this area."
SUPER CAPTION: Dunncha Macniallias, Bogside Residents Group

Many officers of the RUC are desperately worried about the future of the force which is to be reviewed under the terms of the agreement by an independent commission headed by former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten.

One issue the commission will address is whether the RUC can be reformed to better reflect the province it serves.

If the answer to that question is no, then the force may be disbanded.

That prospect has caused uncertainty among its officers.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think morale is low. I don't think it's sometimes as low as some people say - certainly it fluctuates up and down, but there is a great deal of uncertainty out there. There's uncertainty about what is going to happen after the 22nd of May. The Commission comes in - is it going to recommend job losses, is it going to recommend whatever? As you know the Chief Constable carried out a fundamental review a few years ago in which he predicted there would be job losses, because the force - if there was perfect peace, and this is the rider, there must be peace from terrorism."
SUPER CAPTION: Les Rodgers, Police Federation Chairman for the RUC

The officers of the RUC are proud of their history - and deeply resent the suggestion that the force should be disbanded.

But officers were nevertheless being urged to back the Northern Ireland peace plan by their former Chief Constable Sir John Herman on Thursday.

The support of the highly respected Sir John came as a major boost to the "Yes" campaign on the eve of the referendum.

But many of the officers he once led are cautious about the agreement - and whether it will bring peace to Northern Ireland.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
seeing the reaction from people to ourselves."
SUPER CAPTION: Mervin (one name only for security reasons)

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, we all hope, we all hope. Nobody knows. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring. But we can all hope there is some peace settlement that satisfies everybody."
SUPER CAPTION: Jack (one name only for security reasons)



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