- Increased vigilance needed
- Police have difficult role to perform in keeping us safe
Doug Beattie MC MLA said:
“It is important that everyone in our community remains vigilant in respect to recent events in Manchester, dissident republican activity and crime in general. Our police force has a difficult role to undertake to keep us safe and with budget and staffing cuts that task is becoming ever more difficult.
“I do not see the benefits of testing our security services responses in an uncontrolled environment and I would strongly advise against anyone taking it upon themselves to do that.
“It is also important to bear in mind that not all security measures are physical. In fact, many are intelligence driven with monitoring of individuals, items that can be used to create an explosive device and materials on the internet and wider circulation that would assist in making an explosive device.
“The PSNI are supported by MI5 and the National Crime Agency in providing security for the people of Northern Ireland. They also receive support from the military in dealing with suspicious and viable explosive devices. Add to this the numerous private security firms and the general public and you can see that everyone has a part to play in keeping everyone safe in Northern Ireland.
“My confidence in the PSNI, law enforcement agencies and security services has not diminished since the Manchester bomb. However, with the heightened threat level I have increased my vigilance and I ask you all to increase yours.”