The PSNI Chief Constable, George Hamilton, has criticised some British politicians for failing to understand the dangers of terrorism in Northern Ireland in the post-Brexit climate.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Hamilton said that some MPs view Northern Ireland as “peripheral”. He also believes that Theresa May’s government don’t fully understand the effect that leaving the EU will have on the peace and security in Northern Ireland.
“There’s a feeling that as regards the Troubles and the conflict, Northern Ireland is sorted and we don’t need to worry about it, when actually we’re working flat out 24/7 to keep a lid on it,” he said.
He also believes that any checkpoints, border officials, or physical infrastructure on the border will require police protection because officials would become targets.
“The purpose for which those checking points and [Irish] border controls would be put in place would become less and less relevant because they would move away from issues of trade or movement of people to old-fashioned security on a national frontier. That was done during the period of the Troubles rather unsuccessfully, and was sadly the subject of attacks and many lives lost.”
Mr Hamilton also said that he’s not confident that every single politician in Westminster understands the potential consequences for Northern Ireland in the post-Brexit climate,
“I’m not sure all of them do. I have a concern some may see issues to do with the Irish border as literally peripheral, not just geographically but in terms of impact.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
