§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rules govern the relationship between the police and the Army in situations of civil disturbance. [80632]
§ Jane KennedyThe military support to the Police Service in Northern Ireland is in accordance with Military Task 2—Military Aid to the Civil Power in Northern Ireland.
The military provide support to the police. The maintenance of order and response to public disorder will, wherever possible, be undertaken by the police. When necessary, the military can be deployed:
The level and type of military deployment will vary depending on the circumstances of the incident and the wider security environment, but the relationship remains one of provision of support to the police.
- a) in direct support of police as an integral part of operations;
- b) as a contingency reaction force (to deploy into operations at an agreed point); and
- c) as a reserve force (not necessarily in the operations area, but at notice to move within an agreed time).