UPDATE…Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay
THE PSNI has confirmed that planning for the G8 Summit in June is on target for delivery.
Speaking to the Fermanagh Herald this week, Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay, gave an update on how the PSNI’s work is progressing.
“Planning is well advanced now,” he reported. “One of the major challenges we had was around the logistics and infrastructure, but all of that is coming together.”
There has been a marked increase in the number of police officers in Enniskillen and the surrounding area, and ACC Finlay acknowledged that as an ‘obvious’ progression.
“There has been an incremental increase in the policing footprint from the moment it was announced by the Prime Minister back in November.
“We have gradually increased that, and it’s running at a higher tempo now. But, I think everyone realises that it’s to keep everyone safe and to ensure that the summit and all the benefit and focus that it brings to Fermanagh is for the right reasons.”
And what can locals expect from the 2,500 ‘mutual aid’ coming from other parts of the UK?
He explained that mutual aid, the use of other police forces, will predominantly be deployed at airports, and along routes.
However, local policing will continue to be carried out by the PSNI.
Two sites, former military bases, Lisanelly in Omagh and Grosvenor Barracks in Enniskillen will be utilised.
Lisanelly as a temporary custody facility, and Grosvenor an operating base for supporting the principal venue.
“We understand that people have got to go about their daily business, people have to go to school, they’ve got to go to work. The agricultural community have got to get to and from fields – the world’s not going to stop because this is going on.
“Our job is to facilitate that as much as possible, to talk to people about what that might look like individually.
“We’re not going to seek to close Enniskillen. This is an opportunity for the town, and for business.
“There will inevitably be roads that, from time to time, will have to be shut, potentially, but that’ll depend what’s happening in that area.
“It will be always on a case by case basis.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere