Armed British Police Being Deployed in Dublin

Jim236

According to breakingnews.ie, Gardaí have foiled an attempt by dissident Republicans to buy rocket launchers and rocket propelled grenades, and as a result have stepped up security. However, this includes armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers being deployed on the streets of Dublin. Is this acceptable and will this not lead to provocation at what should be peaceful protests during the week?

Hannibal

If true this could make the police visible and then a target.
This is a threat to our soverignity by having a foreign police on patrol in our capital city

Soldie

I think you answered your own question. If our neighbours are willing to help us ensure that the threat from dissident republicans is nullified then I'm willing to let them help.

dlofnep

What powers would a foreign police force have? Riot control, or stop and search/arrests? I think this is a bad move, and will cause more harm than good.

PCPhoto

any protests would probably have not been peaceful anyway !! (especially as there will be no access to the general public to see the queen)

francis1978

To be honest I'm not at all surprised at this development, I would have expected that the security would have been provided by some of her own people in conjunction with members of the garda siochana, in much the same manner as with president obama.

CiaranC

Dotsey wrote: »

If true this could make the police visible and then a target.
This is a threat to our soverignity by having a foreign police on patrol in our capital city

If true, this is nothing short of treasonous

Nijmegen

Stop getting all hot and bothered, this is standard on the visit of any foreign dignitary who has this kind of security. Garda protection officers accompany ours abroad, too. And the practice is most commonly seen in sporting tournaments - one of the key tools in stamping out football hooliganism at events like the World Cup has been to deploy police officers from home nations to help police their own fans.

Stop getting your knickers in a twist at any excuse just because they're British.

alan85

I thought maybe they would have had the army drafted in before armed British police. They would have experience with crowd management though from London. They should not be armed though...

later12

I read this on the Times' website last night. I am no nationalist, but if true it is an undeniable blow to the Queen's visit.

Ireland is ready for the Queen; it is not, I would suggest, ready for armed British policemen. I would suggest that this hesitance is somewhat justified. If a troublemaker's efforts are hampered on the kerb, I would suggest it would better to be seen to be seen to by a Garda than a UK police constable. The consequences of the latter plays directly into the hands of the antis.

Sunnyisland

If there plainclothes protection officers so be it, But I would not like British military/police personnel in uniform on our streets.

meglome

Is this armed British police roaming the streets or is it an armed protection detail that many heads of state would have? Link?

Nijmegen

realies wrote: »

If there plainclothes protection officers so be it, But I would not like British military/police personnel in uniform on our streets.

They won't be bobbies, they'll be plainclothes and on top of the Queen.

Also, has it occured to anyone that most of the people who would throw a bomb at her live in the United Kingdom? That may be the reason why they'd throw the bomb, but nevertheless, close cooperation with British police was always a fact of life in this.

When George W visited there was uproar because the Secret Service were protecting him - as they do in any country. I don't see any of that uproar for Saint Obama's visit.

later12

meglome wrote: »

Link?

Front page of today's (UK) Times

CiaranC

Nijmegen wrote: »

Stop getting all hot and bothered, this is standard on the visit of any foreign dignitary who has this kind of security. Garda protection officers accompany ours abroad, too. And the practice is most commonly seen in sporting tournaments - one of the key tools in stamping out football hooliganism at events like the World Cup has been to deploy police officers from home nations to help police their own fans.

The article says "armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers will be deployed on the streets of Dublin"

Thats nothing like a Garda accompanying a foreign diplomat or the Garda liason on foreign football trips.

meglome

CiaranC wrote: »

The article says "armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers will be deployed on the streets of Dublin"

Thats nothing like a Garda accompanying a foreign diplomat or the Garda liason on foreign football trips.

Si in summary she'll have an armed protection detail like many other heads of state. Why are we only complaining about the Queen of England's one?

CiaranC

meglome wrote: »

Si in summary she'll have an armed protection detail like many other heads of state. Why are we only complaining about the Queen of England's one?

Which heads of state have deployed armed officers on the streets of Dublin?

syklops

armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers

Royalty Protection Officers. Before I got hot and bothered I did some googling. According to this article, the unit is 550 strong. I doubt the entire unit will be utilised in Dublin, as there are other royals that need to be looked after.

I really dont think they are going to be wondering around in their bobby helmets saying "'ello, 'ello, 'ello", and doing stop and searches. They are basically bodyguards.

starviewadams

Wouldn't imagine they'll have powers of arrest,just here to keep an eye on Liz,and to keep an eye out for known troublemakers,much like the hooligan police who travel to different country's for football matches.

CiaranC

starviewadams wrote: »

Wouldn't imagine they'll have powers of arrest,just here to keep an eye on Liz,and to keep an eye out for known troublemakers,much like the hooligan police who travel to different country's for football matches.

Its nothing like "hooligan police", those are not armed and travel as liasons to local police.

syklops

CiaranC wrote: »

Which heads of state have deployed armed officers on the streets of Dublin?

Pope John Paul II to name but one. Barrack Obama would be another.

Wolfe Tone

Rumors that they have had SAS people milling around the place too.


I think its a disgrace, there should be no armed British forces of any description in Ireland. I am sure the Gardaí and the defense forces are more than capable.

pablomakaveli

There'll be armed Secret Service accompanying Obama. Where's the uproar over this? Or is just the British we reserve our ire for?

alan85

I remember I had to give a tour to a high profiled U.S. diplomat. I thought the people he had with him were friends of his. That's how discreet they appeared. Turned out they were armed security. Only found our after offering them a drink. I was told drink and guns don't go well.

It is common but if it's for our cohersing rather than her immediate protection I would have a problem with it and it begs the question should such a visit have gone ahead in the first place...

meglome

CiaranC wrote: »

Which heads of state have deployed armed officers on the streets of Dublin?

All American ones. And I would be very surprised indeed if most countries don't have a similar set-up. Who the hell would send their head of state to another country where there's even the possibility of a threat and not send their own security?

pablomakaveli

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Rumors that they have had SAS people milling around the place too.


I think its a disgrace, there should be no armed British forces of any description in Ireland. I am sure the Gardaí and the defense forces are more than capable.

If the SAS are here they'll more than likely be personal bodyguards for the queen as well. Protecting VIPs is part of their duties.

R P McMurphy

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Rumors that they have had SAS people milling around the place too.


I think its a disgrace, there should be no armed British forces of any description in Ireland. I am sure the Gardaí and the defense forces are more than capable.

I suppose the SAS would be at an advantage as would know their way around Parnell St, Talbot St. and Sth Lenister St.

nuac

Yawn. our ueber-"patriots" seeking to create another controversary.

CiaranC

pablomakaveli wrote: »

There'll be armed Secret Service accompanying Obama. Where's the uproar over this? Or is just the British we reserve our ire for?

Will they be deployed on the streets?

It works both ways, you cannot criticise this farcical state visit without some hysterical fool basically saying you are a member of the IRA.

Soldie

The Royal Protection Officers' competency extends only as far as her immediate personal protection; it's quite inconceivable that such units will have any face-to-face interaction with members of the public. Ordinary (un)armed Gardaí will be lining the streets, riot police will be floating around in the background should the need arise. There will be armed Gardaí closer to the Queen, and there will also be snipers on top of certain buildings. This was discussed on Newstalk yesterday afternoon.

meglome

And honestly as usual in here there's massive complaining because it has anything to do with the British. History is in the past, maybe you should move out of the past.

Nijmegen

Most visiting heads of state and government have armed protection of their own.

I was part of a business delegation with the president some time back in a European country and she had an armed Garda detachment with her. Local police were outside her hotel, the Gardai ran the show inside.

That's normal. Face it, if the King of Belgium visits nobody cares if he has his own protection (he did.) Queen of England? Oh allo allo.

CiaranC

meglome wrote: »

And honestly as usual in here there's massive complaining because it has anything to do with the British. History is in the past, maybe you should move out of the past.

Its nothing to do with it being the British, if someone reported that armed US federal agents were to be deployed on the streets to protect Obama it would be exactly the same.

Too many bloody mindless sheep in this country, no wonder we handed it over to the ECB/IMF without a whimper.

DeVore

You know what IS a threat to our national security?

Loonies running around with rocket launchers.


Not the most *precise* weapons ever eh? But then again they are always willing to accept your sacrifice for the mother land. :rolleyes:


DeV.

Nijmegen

CiaranC wrote: »

Its nothing to do with it being the British, if someone reported that armed US federal agents were to be deployed on the streets to protect Obama it would be exactly the same.

Too many bloody mindless sheep in this country, no wonder we handed it over to the ECB/IMF without a whimper.

They will.

Just define 'deployed on the streets.' The article did not specifically state that British police will be actively policing like a regular Gardai.

They will be deployed on the streets as close protection to the Queen, as normal.

pablomakaveli

If they are deployed on the streets they'll probably be accompanied by members of the Gardaí. They'll be working closely with the Gardaí. They won't be roaming the streets of Dublin on their own doing as they please.

CiaranC

Nijmegen wrote: »

Just define 'deployed on the streets.'

I wish they would, its a very ambiguous statement in the article.

It doesnt suggest "following the queen around and providing close quarters personal protection" to me, it suggests them setting up camp in fixed locations. Which would surely be ludicrous.

Nijmegen

CiaranC wrote: »

I wish they would, its a very ambiguous statement in the article.

It doesnt suggest "following the queen around and providing close quarters personal protection" to me, it suggests them setting up camp in fixed locations. Which would surely be ludicrous.

Which is why I doubt you'll see it happen. Sloppy journalism. It'd be both stupid and unheard of to actually see bobbies running around Dublin.

As for the issue of close protection, this is normal. The Queen will have it. Obama will have it. Every visiting head of state we don't hear about visiting because we don't give a crap has it.

meglome

CiaranC wrote: »

Its nothing to do with it being the British, if someone reported that armed US federal agents were to be deployed on the streets to protect Obama it would be exactly the same.

Well I'd start your protesting then. And you can do the same for several other heads of states I'd imagine. I'd go as far to say that it would be standard practice so you'll be worn out with the protesting.

CiaranC wrote: »

Too many bloody mindless sheep in this country, no wonder we handed it over to the ECB/IMF without a whimper.

Yes us poor ordinary nationalists so like sheep and terribly inferior to you super 'nationalists'. I'd suggest we shouldn't have been voting for a bunch of spoofing crooks, repeatedly. When the ECB/IMF arrived we'd fukked it up so bad that there's was little choice. Maybe when we take responsibility for what we did and stop looking to make it someone else's fault we can get on with it.

CiaranC

Nijmegen wrote: »

Which is why I doubt you'll see it happen. Sloppy journalism.

Lets hope so.

pablomakaveli wrote:

If they are deployed on the streets they'll probably be accompanied by members of the Gardaí. They'll be working closely with the Gardaí. They won't be roaming the streets of Dublin on their own doing as they please.

I dont suppose there is actually any basis for allowing this in law? Or is it a case of sure we'll do it anyway, nobody gives a ****e, like setting up random stop and search points all over the city.

mike65

CiaranC wrote: »

Will they be deployed on the streets?

It works both ways, you cannot criticise this farcical state visit without some hysterical fool basically saying you are a member of the IRA.

The CIA will have armed spooks on every street corner when he goes walkabout, probably marksmen on certain high locations.

batman2000

CiaranC wrote: »

If true, this is nothing short of treasonous

That is a ridiculous comment, along with some other over inflamatory comments. As previously mentioned, as with any head of state or high ranking foreign dignatory they have a armed protection detail (Example, the US Energy Secetrary has a a full secret service detail with him here when he visted Dublin last year, and they were armed).

It states that they are for protection, they do not have any power of arrest, but if any threat is posed to the visiting head, they (the attacker) can be stopped, then arrrested by a Irish official, be it Army or Guarai. In relation to another post, the Irish Army has been deployed along with the Army Rangers, Navy and Air Corps

Nijmegen

CiaranC wrote: »

Lets hope so.


I dont suppose there is actually any basis for allowing this in law? Or is it a case of sure we'll do it anyway, nobody gives a ****e, like setting up random stop and search points all over the city.

Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Acts 1967-2006

HRH_The_Queen

CiaranC wrote: »

The article says "armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers will be deployed on the streets of Dublin"

Thats nothing like a Garda accompanying a foreign diplomat or the Garda liason on foreign football trips.

You don't say ! And is it anything like the (armed) Secret Service agents that accompany President Obama on his foreign visits ?

KeithAFC

This is good news. Will protect the Queen from any possible IRA attack.

pablomakaveli

CiaranC wrote: »

I dont suppose there is actually any basis for allowing this in law? Or is it a case of sure we'll do it anyway, nobody gives a ****e, like setting up random stop and search points all over the city.

It'd be the same for any other head of state who was visiting particularily if there is a threat of violence . There wouldn't be any need for the extra security in the first place if the republicans weren't intent on causing problems anyway.

PeakOutput

CiaranC wrote: »

The article says "armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers will be deployed on the streets of Dublin"

Thats nothing like a Garda accompanying a foreign diplomat or the Garda liason on foreign football trips.

Its actually exactly like that.

Do you also believe it is treasonous to allow the secret service do their job during obamas visit?

Fattes

Which heads of state have deployed armed officers on the streets of Dublin?

His Serene Highness Albert of Monaco recently! 6 armed CPO with him at nearly all times, nobody seemed to even notice

Richard tea

''Gardaí have foiled an attempt by dissident Republicans to buy rocket launchers and rocket propelled grenades''

So its safe to say the Gardaí have one or more dissident Republicans in their custody. When can we expect to read or see this on the news? you know the usual details, names, ages.?

davetherave

Do you have a problem with the SDU being with our president when she is overseas?

As soldie said, these guys/girls are only here as Lizzies personal protection team.

Bullseye1

Jim236 wrote: »

According to breakingnews.ie, Gardaí have foiled an attempt by dissident Republicans to buy rocket launchers and rocket propelled grenades, and as a result have stepped up security. However, this includes armed Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Officers being deployed on the streets of Dublin. Is this acceptable and will this not lead to provocation at what should be peaceful protests during the week?

Were the rocket launchers part of that peaceful protest. If its okay for the President to have his secret service here I see no problem with the Queen having her armed security detail here either.