Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed today’s announcement by the PSNI of a new initiative to tackle the issue of so-called punishment attacks.
Mr Elliott said:
“In a civilised society there is no place for any form of justice system other than that of the State. It goes without saying that punishment attacks, carried out by paramilitary gangs who seek to impose their will on communities by violence or the threat of violence are totally unacceptable.
The scale of the problem cannot be over-estimated with a current clear-up rate of only 4 per cent, and statistics which show that 40 people have been shot in such attacks in Londonderry alone in the last five years and one man was murdered across the border in County Donegal.
Today’s initiative announced by Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris is therefore to be welcomed, but the Police cannot succeed on their own. It is absolutely essential that the communities which are being brutalised by these self-appointed judges and juries find the courage to stand up to them and assist the Police.
We are working to create a shared future in Northern Ireland. Those who would seek to impose their will on local communities through violence and fear have no role to play in that future.”
-ENDS-