Contents 1 Context 3 Evidence Base 015 Area 9 Crime and Reporting 15 Influence of the Past 19 Policing Developments 2005 - 2020 23 Current Policing Model 31 Performance 37 Security First Culture 45 Style and Tone of Delivery 48 Resourcing and Patrolling 51 Visibility 58 Weapons 60 Tasking Protocols 65 Engagement 77 Stations 93 Confidence in Our Integrity 99 Local Accountability 101 Cross Border Policing and Community Safety 105 Conclusion 107 Recommendations 123 Appendices 124 Appendix A: Terms of Reference 126 Appendix B: Reference Material / Sources 134 Appendix C: Consultation Methods 137 Appendix D: Community Restorative Justice – Survey Findings 151 Appendix E: PCSP Survey Summary 01/10/2020 163 Appendix F: Newry, Mourne and Down Area Maps 164 Appendix G: Photographs Crossmaglen and Newtownhamilton Police Stations, March 2020 Context Evidence Base Area Crime and Reporting Influence of the Past Policing Developments 2005 - 2020 Current Policing Model Performance Security First Culture Style and Tone of Delivery Resourcing and Patrolling Visibility Weapons Tasking Protocols Engagement Stations Confidence in Our Integrity Local Accountability Cross Border Policing and Community Safety Conclusion Recommendations Appendix A: Terms of Reference Appendix B: Reference Material / Sources Appendix C: Consultation Methods Appendix D: Community Restorative Justice – Survey Findings Appendix E: PCSP Survey Summary 01/10/2020 Appendix F: Newry, Mourne and Down Area Maps 17 December 2020 Chief Superintendent Philip Knox T/Chief Inspector Finola Dornan POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW Context CONTEXT 01 POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW In January 2020, Police Service of Ultimately, this Review seeks to Northern Ireland Chief Constable build confidence and support Simon Byrne initiated a review of for policing in South Armagh policing arrangements in South in the interests of community Armagh.1 This was precipitated, safety. The Review was focused in part, by the immediate public on understanding how policing reaction to a social media release has been felt and experienced on Christmas Day 2019 in which by the people of South Armagh. the Chief Constable appeared Community perspective has outside Crossmaglen Police Station remained at the forefront of with Local Policing Team officers considerations. carrying police issue assault rifles. Community feedback obtained The recommendations within this in the period which followed report seek to align the South highlighted broader concerns Armagh policing model to standard regarding the style and tone of organisational practice and to local policing. This influenced the achieve outcomes outlined in the decision to dedicate time and Policing Plan 2020 – 2025, namely: resource to reflect objectively on the policing approach and • We have a safe community recommend changes that would facilitate an increasingly visible, • We have confidence in policing accessible, responsive and community-focused service.2 • We have engaged and supportive communities 1 All references to South Armagh within the body of this report should be read as referring to the boundaries of Slieve Gullion District Electoral Area 2 Terms of Reference can be read in full at Appendix A 02 CONTEXT POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW Evidence Base EVIDENCE BASE 03 POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW The Review was conducted over a Appendix A six month period between February Provides a copy of the Terms of and October 2020.3 Information Reference for the South Armagh was obtained from a wide range of Policing Review sources. Broad categories included: Appendix B • Academic, Research and Policy Provides a detailed overview of Papers reference material and sources • Press Reporting Appendix C Provides further information on • Internal and External Consultation consultation methods • Human Resources Data Appendix D Provides a copy of survey findings • Police Performance Analysis and analysis conducted by Community Restorative Justice to • Benchmarking inform the Review • Community Surveys administered Appendix E by Community Restorative Justice Provides a summary of survey (CRJ) and Newry, Mourne and responses produced by PCSP Down Policing and Community Manager, Newry Mourne and Down Safety Partnership (PCSP) District Council on behalf of the Review 3 A postponement took place between April and June 2020. This was attributable to competing operational requirements experienced by the Police Service during the Covid-19 pandemic 04 EVIDENCE BASE CONTEXT 02 POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW Area AREA 05 POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW Newry, Mourne and Down District South Armagh reported the Council area is managed by the following demographics in the 2011 Police Service as, ‘D District’. It had Census: a population of 171,533 at the time of the 2011 Census, a figure which is Religion estimated to have risen to 181,368 83.68% of people were brought up by June 2019.4 in the Catholic religion and 14.53% in Protestant/Other Christian religions. South Armagh is a rural border community located within Newry, Nationality Mourne and Down District 62.27% identified as Irish, 24.24% as Council and Newry and Armagh Northern Irish and 14.87% as British.8 Constituency. A resident population of 27,469 people living in 9,319 Ethnicity households was recorded at the 99.47% of population were from time of the last Census across the the white (including Irish Traveller) seven electoral wards within Slieve ethnic group. Gullion District Electoral Area (DEA) – Bessbrook, Camlough, Language Crossmaglen, Forkhill, Mullaghbane, 2.28% did not have English as their Newtownhamilton and Whitecross.5 first language. The most common Estimates in January 2020 indicate languages after English were Polish that the population of Slieve Gullion and Lithuanian. 22.75% had some has increased to 30,330 people.6 knowledge of Irish. Council and DEA maps are attached at Appendix F. Age The average age of the population was 33 years. 25.43% were aged Policing in South Armagh under 16 years and 11.27% were is organised on the basis of aged 65 and over. the localities of Crossmaglen (ward population 2,665 across Gender 967 households, 2011) and 49.90% of the usually resident Newtownhamilton, encompassing population were male and 50.10% the remaining DEA wards of were female. Bessbrook, Camlough, Forkhill, Mullaghbane and Whitecross Disability (combined population 24,698 19.30% of people had a long term across 8,352 households, 2011).7 health problem or disability that limited their day-to-day activities. 4 ninis2.nisra.gov.uk 5 NI Census 2011, ninis2.nisra.gov.uk 7 NISRA, Northern Ireland Local Council Infographics, January 2020 6 Census 2011 - ninis2.nisra.gov.uk 8 The selection of more than one national identity was possible within this section of the Census 06 AREA CONTEXT 02 POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: SOUTH ARMAGH POLICING REVIEW Employment The area is influenced culturally 64.48% of people aged between and by infrastructure with the 16 and 74 years were economically Republic of Ireland. Regular cross active and 7.13% were unemployed. border movement of people is evident in terms of employment, education and social interaction. Newry and Armagh Constituency There are pockets of limited is represented at Westminster by telecoms reception in some areas a Sinn Fein MP. At the Northern and it is common for residents to Ireland Assembly, Sinn Fein has utilise southern mobile telephone three MLAs, with DUP and SDLP networks.11 The local road network each returning one MLA for the is primarily comprised of ‘B’, ‘C’ constituency area. In Newry, and unclassified roads with 39 Mourne and Down District Council, border crossing points.12 There are Slieve Gullion DEA is currently only two ‘A’ class roads. The A1 on represented by five Sinn Fein, one the eastern boundary of the DEA Ulster Unionist and one SDLP local is a major route included in the councillors. Northern Ireland Strategic Road Network providing transit between the south of Ireland and Newry city. South Armagh is home to the Ring The A37 is a 3.4 mile section of of Gullion, an Area of Outstanding road which runs through the village Natural Beauty, and as such is a key of Cullaville approximately 2 miles tourist asset for Northern Ireland.9 south of Crossmaglen, located at The Regional Development Strategy the southern border of the DEA. in Northern Ireland, which sets This connects the N53, the Republic out the long term vision on the of Ireland’s national secondary future development of Northern road network, between Dundalk in Ireland up until 2035, identifies the County Louth and Castleblaney in Ring of Gullion as one of only nine County Monaghan. A seamless cross strategic natural resources.10 The border policing model is required area has much to offer, now and in in order to effectively prevent harm the future. The policing approach in communities, bring offenders to should complement and enhance justice and reduce risk to police local development and prosperity. officers. 9 Department of Environment, December 1991 10 Newry, Mourne and Down Development Plan 2030, Preferred Options Paper, June 2018 11 Information from – Police Consultation; Newry, Mourne and Down Development Plan 2030; Observation 12 Border Crossing Points 9A – 41, Police Srvice of Northern Ireland ESRI Mapping AREA 07 POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND: