Ambitious plan for Northern Ireland security force

An ambitious plan envisaging the eventual replacement of a formidable high-tech military apparatus with police shops and police officers on bicycles was unveiled for Northern Ireland yesterday.

But one of its central provisions, the ending of the role of a locally-recruited army unit, produced an indignant outcry from Unionist politicians who characterised it as appeasement of the IRA.

Last week the IRA announced it would decommission its weapons arsenal and end all illegal activities. Many reacted at the time with a general welcome but cautioned that they wanted actions rather than words.

But the far-reaching security package means that the first actions are coming from the authorities rather than republicans, who welcomed yesterday's moves. The package lays out a plan for the beginning of the end of the role of the army. Troops were first sent on to the streets of Belfast and Londonderry exactly 36 years ago, in August 1969.

The overall plan is for more civilian policing with the army's already much-reduced role being run down even further and the closure of many military bases. Anti-terrorist legislation is also scheduled to be appealed.

The Royal Irish Regiment is to lose its three Northern Ireland battalions over the next two years. These locally recruited units contain more than 3000 soldiers, both full-time and part-time.

Since its soldiers are predominantly Protestant, the move has unwelcome political and economic implications for the Unionist community. Unionist spokesmen regularly oppose the security run-down, which has been under way over the last decade.

The army began dismantling a watchtower last week, the day after the IRA declaration. It was known that news of further security relaxation was to be given this week, but the ending of the RIR's role caused much surprise.

Democratic Unionist party leader the Rev Ian Paisley denounced yesterday's announcement as "a surrender to the IRA and further evidence of bad faith on the part of the government."

He added: "We are appalled at the dishonest and dangerous approach." Mr Paisley said the government "will pay a high price for its approach," warning that it would delay the return of devolution.

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey described the move as "deplorable, reckless and premature."

But Colonel Tim Collins, who had a high profile as a Royal Irish Regiment commander in Iraq, said of its members: "They can take great pride that their mission is accomplished at this point. There is no shame in them standing down."

The RIR's regimental colonel, Mark Campbell, said its members were people "who stood in harm's way in some very dark times."

He added: "It is partly due to their sacrifice and effort that those who would use violence against the democratic process have now rejected violence."

Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said: "I welcomed the start that the British government made last week to the demilitarisation process and today's moves advance that process further. I now want to see the job completed as quickly as possible."

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said the two-year demilitarisation plan would be contingent on the security situation, adding he was moving quickly after the IRA's statement.

He said the aim was the creation of an environment, which will allow the return of conventional policing across Northern Ireland.

Within the next eight months, the authorities plan do dismantle installations in south Armagh, Londonderry and Belfast, including an observation tower which has for decades been perched on top of high-rise flats at Divis in west Belfast.

If all goes well, a number of police stations are expected to close, as many have already done. The security forces will meanwhile also "defortify" two dozen stations, opening police shops, increasing the bicycle patrols which have been introduced over the last year, and sending out single officers on patrol.

In most places police continue to patrol in pairs, while they operate in a range of vehicles which include both conventional cars and heavily-armed landrovers.

Eventually Northern Ireland will have a peacetime garrison of no more than 5000 arms forces personnel, who will be available for worldwide operations.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, who approved the military plan, said that the IRA's statement was clearer than anything the organisation had issued before, but that the actions of the organisation "will be crucial."

- THE INDEPENDENT