Using and abusing the clergy

One Strabane community activist has his ow take on the 'Faith in Policing' iitiative- it's a proganda stunt by the PSNI, he says.

Paul Gallagher said he would have serious concerns if local clergy were to go out on patrol with the PSNI.

He is adamant that the independence of the clergy will be muddied if they were to take up the offer of going on the beat with the PSNI.

"The clergy would lose their independence. Is it going to be the case where people who confess in a confessional box in a local Church to a local priest will then be afraid of being pinpointed on the street because a priest is on patrol with the PSNI."

When pressed as to whether this was a likely scenario Mr Gallagher added, "Will the presence of the clergy be used to convince vulnerable people to make confessions to the local police?

"Once the clergy loses its independence it will succumb to the institution and all the tools that go with it, including recruiting informers.

"The question has to be why are the PSNI doing this. Wat's behind this. Why? The clergy are not travelling around in ambulances and fire engines, what's the purpose of patrolling with the PSNI.

"It's not so long ago that the police force in Strabane would not allow local priests into a field where three young men were shot dead.

"As far as I am concerned this is nothing but propaganda by the PSNI and the using and abusing of the clergy within our community."