New British Anti-terror Unit Deployed in Fermanagh

THE PSNI has confirmed that specialist anti-terrorist police have been deployed in the Fermanagh area following a number of dissident republican attacks here.

Announcing the drafting in of the crack unit, the PSNI referred to the recent ambush of a police officer at Garrison, as well as an upsurge in criminal activity, including ATM robberies along the border.

The presence of the specialist unit was revealed at last month's meeting of the Dungannon District Policing Partnership, although not in the role they were tasked to carry out.

The local PSNI Inspector admitted the new unit had been deployed to tackle burglary and ATM theft.

However, he insisted that their primary role, 'and whole purpose in our area', was in an anti-terrorism role, 'trying to disrupt terrorists and detect them moving munitions or whatever'.

The officer, Inspector Stephen Moneypenny, disclosed that the specialist force were Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officers.

The Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the drafting of specialist police into Fermanagh in support of the PSNI to combat dissident activity.

Mr Elliott told the Herald that it had been obvious for some time that the local PSNI required additional support due to the level of crime they were contending with.

"This not only includes burglaries and acts of crude criminality, such as the ATM thefts, but also the threat of paramilitary violence. We only have to think back to the attempted murder of a young police officer in Garrison in November to see just how dangerous the situation is at this moment in time."

"This is why I am pleased that specialist police officers have being drafted in to help support our local officers already on the ground."

He said their presence would not only aid 'F' Division - including Fermanagh and most of Tyrone - in a practical manner by increasing the manpower at their disposal, but that, visually, their presence would reassure people that the police were increasingly active on the ground.

"I believe that the wider community will take confidence from the fact that local policing resources are being enhanced at a time when it a real necessity."

However, Fermanagh Independent Councillor, Bernice Swift said the primary aim of the PSNI remained the same as the RUC, RIC and the B-Specials.

"That aim', she said, " is to protect the British state and British interests in Ireland. It is not about combating a dissident threat.

"Throughout history, Britain has deployed a wide range of tactics to maintain its occupation of Ireland; however, one element of British strategy in Ireland has remained constant for centuries and it's that of the locally recruited militia.

"The British government and its allies in Ireland continuously claim that the PSNI is a normal police service for a normal state.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The PSNI is just the frontline force of Britain's 'Axis of Evil' in Ireland, along with the British army and MI5 forming the other elements".