§ 8.9 pm
§ David Burnside (South Antrim)Some 1,500 people from Northern Ireland, cross-community, have signed a petition to save the band of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Tomorrow, in a performance at Ards leisure centre for Action Cancer, and on Friday at the passing out parade at Garnerville, 100 years of service of the band will come to an end. That service has included many sad events, such as funerals of the brave officers and men of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, but also many happy community relations events of good service for all the community of Northern Ireland in promoting an excellent community relations performance on behalf of the police force and police service in Northern Ireland.
The petition states:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House request the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to encourage the Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland to reconsider his decision to stand down the band.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.To lie upon the Table.