Not a word of criticism of any politician, the absent DUP and Sinn Fein or the Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris (Con). Who? You may well ask. Doesn’t, in the absence of a devolved government, the buck stop with him?
No platforming of the opposition Alliance party to attack anyone other than the Chief Constable.
Should the buck stop with him?
On 20 June 2023, BBC Northern Ireland had:
The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has defended his refusal to make major policy decisions in the absence of an Executive. He has been criticised by Stormont politicians for putting too much responsibility on civil servants.
Speaking an event at the Institute for Government he said he had no powers to step in but if he did that would look “remarkably like direct rule”.
He added this had not had “great outcomes” previously.
“It’s something I’m really very wary of,” he added.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65957409
Were there any warning signs that all was not well with the PSNI and that the UK Government’s running of it might lead to trouble like that which we see here?
Yes.
In the the Belfast Telegraph, 26 January 2023:
The PSNI is “going to shrink over the next three years” with its ability to tackle crime “reduced”, the Chief Constable has warned today.
Simon Byrne was outlining the force’s “stark budgetary situation” on Thursday as he said “crime is rising” but there will be fewer officers on Northern Ireland’s streets.
As numbers of officers fall, the police boss warned that the “capacity to investigate crime may be reduced and slowed” and that there will be a “reduced proactive presence on our roads despite rising road deaths”.
“We have previously made clear that we will have a funding shortfall of around £80 million by March this year and envisage bigger shortfalls in the years to come. As a result, the Police Service is going to shrink over the next three years. By March there will be 309 fewer Police Officers and 115 fewer staff, a reduction of nearly 6%.
“We will then have 6,699 full time officers. This is 800 officers fewer that the commitment made in the New Decade New Approach Agreement and the lowest officer numbers since the Police Service of Northern Ireland was formed.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/psni-budget-cuts-mean-ability-26077659
Regulars here will know what is coming when we look at how BBC Scotland covers policing-related issues in Scotland, even though the consequences of alleged errors here will be less worrying than in Northern Ireland with the threat of terrorist violence still present there.
On 14 February 2023:
Nearly 50 police officers leave the force during complaints cases
In this report, an image of the Justice Secretary, Keith Brown, is shown and the Conservative opposition is platformed:
But Conservative MSP Russell Findlay, the party’s shadow community safety minister, said the FOI figures were “further evidence of Scotland’s dysfunctional system of police complaints and governance which fails the public and the majority of good officers”.
He said: “Angiolini made 111 recommendations and it’s not good enough that the majority of the most significant ones, including an end to officers being able to quit while under investigation, have been kicked into the long grass.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64629292
On 25 May 2023:
Police Scotland chief says force is institutionally racist
In this report, the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, is questioned and the Conservative opposition is platformed to exploit a political opportunity:
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the problems in Police Scotland were “systemic” and its complaints processes were “not fit for purpose”.
He also urged the Scottish government to deliver extra resources for the force and to provide extra protection for whistleblowers who fear punishment if they raise legitimate concerns.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65706748
Finally, on May 4 2023, via their direct line from Kirsty Wark to Pacific Quay:
We’ve seen this regular politicising of public service issues by BBC Scotland and the contrasting behaviour of BBC Wales, BBC UK and STV many times before. We can add BBC NI now to that list.
For much more evidence on BBC Wales: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Wales
For more evidence on BBC UK: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=BBC+UK
For more evidence of STV’s less politicising approach: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=STV
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
No politician to blame ? Surely the BBC could have , even indirectly , suggested some SNP involvement ?
Come on , Beeb ! You’re not really trying !
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Oh, I have little doubt that BBC Scotland are franticly looking for any data breach to rejoice in.
You can be sure BBC Scotland have already submitted an FOI request on how many Scottish sorry meant SNP Government data breaches there have been since 2007!
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Douglas Ross says a lot of things but not many of those things that he says are things that most people take any notice of…… mainly because most honest folk are more than aware that his own party are ones who fail to get their own house in order on many an occassion……so to speak.
Pot Kettle Black….is but ONE of the reasons the Tories are descending in the polls.
I mean if you are going to challenge those in opposition you really need to do it from a position where you and your party are clearly more effective and too ones who have succeeded where you say the opposition have failed……unfortunately Douglas Ross knows only too well that is not the case with his party …..but he has a job to do as the leader (title only not actual) of a Protest party in Scotland….so he must humiliate himself daily in accusing others of the very things he knows his own party have failed to do as the UK government….. indeed failure is the only thing the Tories are proficient at via most of their government departments……so if you want to measure that then you could say they are successfully failing to fulfil their role as a functioning, competent and fiscally responsible government.
As to the BBC well they too take the same position as Douglas Ross and they too are failures at the job they are supposed to do…..but then one could argue that their constant attacks upon the SNP ….IS THEIR JOB….or rather that is how they see it.
NO heads will roll or indeed be asked to …..as far as the Tories are concerned.
Their modus operandi is to defend their own…. even against overwhelming evidence …….but they are very very good, especially Douglas Ross, at saying the buck should stop with respective Scottish government ministers should any incidents occur UNDER THEIR WATCH OR WITHIN THEIR REMIT……which many a time is communicated via their client media in Scotland…..to include speculation, exaggeration and criticism from those parties who are in opposition to the SNP……where the SNP are presented as those who need to appear as if they must DEFEND their position…always…..with their, SNP, position always being presented as a tenuous one…..
Let’s be honest after Liz Truss as PM and all the carnage that ensued via that then one would assume that Douglas Ross would finally find a bridge to hide under as opposed to him having the brass neck to accuse the Scottish government, FM and indeed the SNP of overseeing and allowing any public service or anything under their remit to being something that was not “fit for purpose”……
I mean how many Tory PM’s in quick succession does it take before the Tories and those who vote for them admit that perhaps they themselves are not exactly “doing the day job” in choosing wisely who leads their party…….and their choice of government ministers are hardly ones who adopt a “hands on” approach are they?
So Mr Ross less faux indignation, contrived anger and carping from the sidelines because you protest from a glass house…..as in doing so you do more damage to your already diminished (bad) reputation than to others…..time for some self reflection and at least a smidgen of decorum me thinks…….your description by a colleague as one who is “lightweight” is fast becoming a reality that more people are now coming to realise….though I personally think that description was a tad generous and perhaps ‘insignificant’ is more apt to describe your place in the Tory party….and here in Scotland too BTW.
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NI has not got a government at Stormont. Stormont is suspended because of Westminster Gov interference. Giving the DUP bungs for support at Westminster. The Masonic police. Discriminating against people. Secrecy, bigots, misogynist and racist. Westminster backed for unionist votes at Westminster.. Ireland can vote to reunite but Westminster unionists are trying to stop that happening. Total lack of democracy. Including Brexit.
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The DUP wasted some of the bungs on wood burning £1/2Billion. The Troubles caused by Westminster unionists cost £Billions and lives. For unionist votes at Westminster. People in NI were refused the vote and discriminated against. The masons ruled the administration full of bile and hatred, against their fellow citizens. The illegal Partition. 1922. Universal suffrage 1928. The masons got all the public housing and the public jobs. The old handshake. The Royals at the helm.
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