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Anti-police posters 'unacceptable' and 'disgraceful'

BBC A poster on a structure in Lurgan shows a number of uniformed police officers including one cloe up along with anti-PSNI slogansBBC
The anti-police posters were mocked up to look like PSNI recruitment ads

The police have said they are aware of "inappropriate and unacceptable" anti-police posters being erected in Lurgan, County Armagh.

The images, mocked up to look like Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recruitment ads, were put up ahead of a police engagement event in the town on Tuesday.

Similar posters appeared outside the gates of Queen's University Belfast and some were discovered in the Holylands area of south Belfast last week.

It comes as the police revealed that their latest recruitment drive for student officers, which closed on 12 February, attracted 4,822 applications.

'Sinister posters'

Politicians have condemned the posters.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart, of the DUP, told Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme the posters had been "erected in the darkness of night ahead of a proactive policing engagement session in north Lurgan".

She added: "This comes about on the back of really good work that has been done within the north Lurgan community by the police in terms of building relationships,

"The event that was to take place today was very much an event to talk through local issues.

"These events are about engagement and allowing the community the space to engage with the police in a very informal way and today these posters, I have no doubt, will have put people off going."

The event, at North Lurgan Community Centre, went ahead as planned on Tuesday.

PA Media Carla Lockhart has straight, long blond hair and is wearing a black suit jacket and white and black scarf. She is speaking at an election event last yeat PA Media
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said the posters had been erected at a time of improving relations between the police and communities in Lurgan

SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan said the posters "are disgraceful and should be removed immediately".

He added: "The PSNI should not be prevented from engaging with the communities they serve and any attempt to create fear in certain areas must be resisted.

"The people behind these posters have no support and they should cease these futile actions."

Eoin Tennyson of the Alliance Party said the posters should be condemned by everyone.

"These sinister posters are clearly intended to intimidate local residents who wish to engage positively with the PSNI, as well as officers themselves," he said.

"The vast majority of people in Lurgan want to move forward towards a more shared and inclusive future."

Alderman Mark Baxter, chair of Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Policing and Community Safety Partnership, said it had facilitated one if its regular community engagement meetings in North Lurgan Community Centre to allow local people to engage with the police.

"A small peaceful protest took place and the meeting, which was positive, passed off without incident," he added.

A ripped poster on a electricity box outside Queen's University Belfast. The poster shows a smiling police officer but beneath it is the phrase British policing in Ireland - reject it
An anti-policing poster has also been put up outside Queen's University Belfast

Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist election candidate Jay Basra also posted pictures on Facebook of an anti-police poster outside Queen's University in south Belfast.

He said the poster was "absolutely deplorable" and "nothing but an attempt to spread disinformation about the PSNI".

Police said their enquiries were continuing and they urged people not to share or circulate images.

Supt Brendan Green said: "We engage with all members of the community on local policing priorities and issues that affect them.

"We will continue to use our outreach activities, like those hosted this week in north and south Lurgan, to encourage people from all communities, particularly those currently under-represented within the service, to apply for a career in policing."

Police said where an offence is identified, they have operational discretion as to what action to take in terms of removing such posters.

"This includes appropriately alerting/advising land and property owners of the presence of offending material," a spokesperson said.

They also said they were aware of similar posters erected in Belfast.

Applications 'really positive'

On Tuesday, the police revealed the numbers of people who had applied to the PSNI.

They said were also 587 applications for call handler jobs.

"It is really positive to see that in the three week application window such a large number of people have expressed an interest in stepping up to serve our communities and keep people safe by becoming a police officer or call handler with the Police Service of Northern Ireland," Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said.

"We met with so many brilliant and dedicated people from all backgrounds and walks of life whose talents will undoubtedly enhance our Police Service and improve the lives of the communities we serve."