Chair, as the Motion states, in terms of law & order and Policing in this Province, there is no question that “this is not as good as it gets.”
The Ulster Unionist Party is and always has been the party of law and order.
I speak to you today as a member of the Policing Board and a proud former member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. I am not alone in this room in that, and those of us who served in the RUC or the Police Service of Northern Ireland know exactly the risks that our police officers face day and daily.
The main threat we face as a society is from terrorism and criminality. Regardless of the names used, we know the threat these fanatics can pose and the damage they can cause. The past year has seen attacks in Londonderry, Strabane and Omagh, and indeed on Wednesday the UK’s Terrorism Reviewer, David Anderson QC noted that Northern Ireland was the location for more than half of the terror attacks in the entire European Union!
Criminal gangs – some with paramilitary connections, others without – control the drugs trade in Northern Ireland. Many have links to criminal gangs outside Northern Ireland are also engaged in human trafficking.
No matter who they are or where they come from, they must be caught, they must face the courts, and they must be punished for their trade in human misery.
The Ulster Unionist Party will demand that the Police and the National Crime Agency are given every assistance to tackle criminality and we will also support close partnership between the PSNI the NCA and indeed an Garda Síochána to fight a common enemy.
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The public has long been concerned at the cost of justice to the public purse.
Legal Aid is provided in Civil and Criminal cases and approximately £65 million is paid out divided approximately 60% civil and 40% criminal.
Justice must always be blind towards the parties involved and justice must be seen to be balanced. However there are those who seem to be able to access an awful lot of public money to defend themselves when there is a belief that they have funds salted away for a rainy day.
The entire process from start to finish needs to be effectively overhauled. The constant delays must be eradicated and excessive amounts of public money for the legal profession needs to end. We need to ensure value for money for the taxpayer and ensure that the justice system in Northern Ireland does not become a cash cow for law firms and their partners.
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There are many in this country who believe that punishments do not reflect crimes. The fact is that many people believe current sentences provide neither punishment or act as a deterrent to others.
How often have we seen footage on our televisions of young people attacking the Police with stones and petrol bombs?
No normal society would tolerate disorder on the scale we have seen, no normal society would find it acceptable to see children throwing petrol bombs and no normal society would expect their police officers to face such onslaughts.
Parents need to take responsibility for their children and Society needs to take responsibility for itself.
We have to review our entire legal processes from top to bottom. We have to see punishments fit the crime. Rehabilitation is very important concept in our justice system, but we must not lose sight of punishment and deterrence.
I support the motion.