‘Appropriate and proportionate’ policing response in Scarva parade, PSNI says

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

Police in the North have defended a policing operation in Co Down amid a pro-Palestine parade and counter-protest as “appropriate and proportionate”.

Police officers, armoured Land Rovers, riot squad members and water cannons were among resources in place in the village of Scarva on Saturday.

It came as hundreds of protesters, many with Israel and Union flags, were present ahead of the passing-by on Newry towpath of the Great March for Gaza, organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).

The march set off from Lurgan, Co Armagh, to Newry to represent the 25-mile length of the Gaza Strip aiming to raise money for Palestine Aid Ireland and Children Not Numbers.

The Parades Commission granted permission for the march but placed a number of conditions on it, including that no participant should enter Scarva.

Meanwhile, a group called Scarva Concerned Residents had permission for a demonstration on Scarva Bridge, with conditions including refraining from “provocative behaviour”.

A line of police Land Rovers blocked off the bridge which connects the towpath and the village.

As the march passed along the towpath, protesters on the other side of the canal watched on, including a crowd who gathered at a housing development further down the canal where shouting of insults could be heard.

It came after a similar event last year which saw what police termed as “minor disorder” and four arrests, as well as number of people cautioned.

Events passed off without major incident on Saturday afternoon.

Unionists raised what they termed “significant questions” about the policing operation.

In a statement, the DUP said it is seeking a meeting with the PSNI for answers about the operational decisions that were taken within the village.

“This not only served to increase disruption to residents but many of those on the ground felt did not help reduce anxiety and tensions,” they said.

“Residents and participants deserve clarity on this and other issues including whether evidence was gathered to identify any breaches of the determination issued in relation to the parade, including the presence of a banner with the antisemitic ‘from the river to the sea’ slogan on it.

“The fact that the event passed without major incident is welcome, but it should not prevent a full examination of how matters were handled.”

UUP leader Jon Burrows said he has written to both the Parades Commission and the PSNI requesting meetings to discuss the handling of the day’s events in Scarva, and to seek an update on the investigation into the alleged breaches of the Parades Commission determination.

TUV councillor Keith Ratcliffe questioned the deployment of riot police and dogs, claiming “there was never any point during the day when it looked like there was any prospect of a riot”.

“I will be contacting both the PSNI and the Parades Commission to express my outrage at today’s events, and to demand that this is the last time that Scarva is subjected to the like,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lurgan IPSC said its march was disciplined and well-stewarded.

It said part of the route along Sugar Island Road had been “purposely sprayed with slurry” and attempts were made to intimidate marchers.

“Multiple times along our route, we were accosted by hostile counter-protesters in an attempt to intimidate, with no consideration for the families with young children just wanting to pass through peacefully,” it said.

“Just as during our peaceful protest last year, we were subjected to racist and sectarian abuse, all of which has been recorded.

“Our march was disciplined and well-stewarded, and did not engage while slurs were hurled from the un-notified counter protest in a field outside Scarva.”

The group maintained it had abided by Parades Commission conditions and questioned whether the counter-protest had.

“Again, our focus was solely on coming together collectively to stand up against the greatest atrocity of our generation and the nearly three years of government inaction and complicity in it,” the group said.

“We are proud of all the participants today, we can stand over our actions today and are sorely disappointed to be met with such hate.”

In a statement, the PSNI said: “An appropriate and proportionate policing operation was implemented in Scarva this afternoon to maintain public safety during a notified parade and protest.

“Evidence-gathering was deployed as part of the operation and footage captured will be reviewed in due course.”