News
5th January 10
1/5/2010
Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott has welcomed steps towards a more "detailed consideration" of applications for Personal Protection Weapons by the Senior Command Team of the PSNI.
PPW applications to enjoy more ’detailed consideration’
Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott has welcomed steps towards a more "detailed consideration" of applications for Personal Protection Weapons by the Senior Command Team of the PSNI.
“Following a meeting with the PSNI, I am pleased to note that the current situation, which was wholly unacceptable, has been reviewed. While this is certainly not a reversal of the existing policy, it marks a welcome shift in attitude,” the former UDR man said.
“The PSNI have said that they will take into more detailed consideration the exceptional circumstances of each application, particularly given the broader dissident threat. I am hopeful that this will provide a more practical, flexible approach to a worrying situation.
“This is no guarantee of renewal, but from our meeting I am led to believe that it signifies that the process will be more case-specific and leave the acquisition of PPWs more open to those who are vulnerable for any number of reasons.
“It is essential that a real move is made on this issue, as it would unforgivable if former members of the RUC, UDR, PSNI, RIR and Prison service who have lived with an ongoing death threat from terrorists for many years were to be refused a licence to hold a small firearm for their own personal protection.
“The lack of specific, current threat means little in these uncertain times. As we have witnessed, to our cost, dissident attacks can occur at any time, and in any location.
“It has been clear for some time that this short-sighted policy, as it stood, was neither sufficiently robust nor fit for purpose.”
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