NCJ Number
81710
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1982) Pages: 20-27
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The Royal Ulster Constabulary's (RUC's) progress in reducing violence in Northern Ireland's divided community is described.
Abstract
In 1969, the RUC's numerical weakness and perception of partisan involvement in the conflict between Catholics and Protestants required the use of the Regular Army to counter the terrorist violence and the threat of a complete breakdown in law and order. Regular Army involvement reached a high of 21,260 soldiers employed in the maintenance of public order. Since that time, the Army's role has become secondary to that of the RUC, as the presence of the Army has been reduced to 11,000 members. Such a trend is necessary if the Province is to move toward normative social order. Over the past 12 years the RUC has significantly increased the number and quality of its personnel. The average educational level of personnel has increased, and training has targeted the special policing requirements of the Province, particularly the need for improved police-community relations and a nonpartisan approach to law and order. The RUC's role appears to be supported by both Catholics and Protestants who wish to deal with socioeconomic and political differences without violence. Although the RUC is composed of only about 10 percent Catholics, the public seems no longer seriously concerned about factional imbalance in the force. The policing strategy is built upon 35 Divisional Mobile Support Units (DMSU's), which are available for any policing matter within their respective divisions. DMSU's are deployed according to divisional intelligence assessments. Operations requiring special attention are monitored and controlled from a central control room where intelligence and incident reports are collated and the status of all DMSU's continuously reviewed. The strategy is designed to keep the force at low profile at times of low threat to public order, while being constantly ready to apply needed shows of strength as situations warrant it.