SOURCE: CAIN (Conflict Archive on the Internet) http://cain.ulst.ac.uk

Text and Research: Fionnuala McKenna

Background Information on Northern Irish Society

Security

This draft section provides some brief background information on the security situation in Northern Ireland. This section only covers information about crime or violence in relation to the conflict.

=                     The police force in Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), was established in 1922. Up until March 1970 the size of the RUC never exceeded 3,500 members, but this was reassessed in the light of the “Troubles”, and membership of the RUC now stands at 8,489. Its total expenditure for the 1994 – 1995 financial year was £601.1 million.

=                     The RUC has always been composed mainly from members of the Protestant community. In 1992, only 7.78 per cent of the full time force were Catholic, and an even small percentage than this could be found in the reserve forces. The Government is currently considering major reform of the police force throughout the United Kingdom (UK), and this religious imbalance in the composition of the RUC is one of the problems which will be addressed. In May 1996, the Government published a White containing specific proposals for reform of policing structures, aimed at making the force more fair, impartial and accountable.

=                     The Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) came into existence in Northern Ireland in April 1970, as a direct consequence of the proposals of the Hunt Report. In effect, the force was a replacement for the all-Protestant Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) or “B Specials”, and their role was to provide support for the regular police force. Initially, the UDR had up to 18 per cent Catholic membership, but by 1991, this figure had fallen dramatically to only 3 per cent.

=                     The Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) was formed on 1 July 1992 as a result of the merger of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. The new regiment is made up of one General Service battalion, liable to serve worldwide, and six Home Service battalions which only serve Northern Ireland. The total strength of the home-based battalions remains broadly the same as the former strength of the UDR and continues to include both part-time and full-time soldiers. It currently employs 5,500 individuals, with 3,000 being full-time and 2,500 part-time soldiers.

=                     In 1969 the British Army was deployed on the streets of Northern Ireland. It was welcomed at first by the Catholic community, but this attitude was short-lived. The number of British soldiers present in Northern Ireland fluctuates, in response to the security situation. The figures peaked in 1972, when it reached over 30,000. By 1994, this figure stood at 18,500. Subsequent to the IRA ceasefire of 1994, this figure was reduced to 17,000.

Sources:

The following tables provide some further details of the security situation in Northern Ireland. The information has been obtained from the Police Constable’s Annual Report. The Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, the Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts, (1997), and “A Partnership for Change”, A Report on Further Consultation by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

Strength of the police force, and the UDR/RIR

The ranks of the Royal Ulster Constabulary

Security Incidents in Northern Ireland, 1969-1994

Number of people charges with terrorist and serious public order offences, from 1972-1995

Result of Paramilitary (“Punishment”) Shootings and Assaults

Public Attitudes to Policing. Results of a survey taken September 1996

Public Attitudes on the performance of Local Police: 1994 and 1996

The following other pages of interest on the CAIN server:

A breakdown of deaths caused by terrorist incidents, in terms of status

A chronological list of major violent incidents in Northern Ireland, from

1971–1994

A list of significant violent incidents during the “Troubles”

____________________________________________________________________

Strength of Police Force and UDR/RIR

Source: Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1996

Ranks of the Royal Ulster Constabulary: 1995

Source: Irish Almanac and Yearbook, 1997

Security Incidents in Northern Ireland, 1969-1994

Number of people charged with terrorist and serious public order offences:

*(from 31.07.72)

Source: Chief Constable’s Annual Report, 1996

Casualties as a Result of Paramilitary (“Punishment”) Shootings [1] and Assaults [2] 1987-1996

(Source: Chief Constable’s Annual report, 1996, p87)

Notes:

[1] “Shootings” refers to paramilitary “punishment” attacks involving guns

[2] “Assaults” refers to paramilitary “punishment” attacks which did not involve guns

Public Attitudes to Policing: Results of a survey taken September 1996

(i)                 Confidence in the Police:

Source: “A Partnership for Change”. A Report on Further consultation by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland

(ii)        Performance of Local Police:

Source: “A Partnership for Change”: A report on Further consultation by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland