If true peace is achieved in Northern Ireland, changes in the RUC would be inevitable but they must be "evolutionary and not revolutionary", the Orange Order has said in a submission to the Patten Commission on Policing. It also said membership of the order should have no bearing on RUC membership.
A delegation of senior Orange officials led by the grand master, Mr Robert Saulters, met the commission in Belfast yesterday to press for minimum changes to the RUC. "Any other way would be extremely offensive to by far the greater number of people in Northern Ireland, whatever their religious views, who have always supported the forces of law and order in upholding the highest standards of British justice," the order claimed.
The order opened its six-page submission by paying tribute to the force. "Our organisation has from time to time disagreed with policing decisions and we have shared the concerns of the police when a (very small) minority of their officers have failed to uphold the high standard of discipline," it said.
"Unlike others however, we will not denigrate the professionalism and integrity of the Royal Ulster Constabulary because of the actions of a few and because we disagree with specific decisions," the order added.
It insisted that the RUC title and crest must remain. "This is a proud and honourable title with historical connections to its predecessor, the Royal Irish Constabulary. The crest which has been worn with such dignity down the years should not be changed. It is interesting to note that it encapsulates a sense of Britishness and Irishness, comprising as it does the crown, harp and shamrock." The Union Jack should be flown at police stations in accordance with the protocol applying to British government buildings, it added.
The commission was told that recruitment and promotion must always be based on "selecting the best people for the job", and on the basis of equal opportunity. Recruitment must be encouraged from right across the community.
"The matter of RUC officers holding membership of the Orange institution or indeed any other legitimate organisation should not be in contention."
The order added it was "inconceivable that former terrorists" should be eligible to join the force.
It also opposed the concept of a two-tier police force as favoured by the SDLP. "There must be a single police force in Northern Ireland as exists in the Republic of Ireland. The concept of regionalisation within such a small country is neither viable nor efficient."
For the moment the RUC must remain armed but "in the future event of the removal of a terrorist threat it may be that armed response units will suffice".
Any redundancies should be by natural wastage.
The order said it was clear that many complaints against the RUC were politically motivated. The force must not be "sacrificed on the altar of political expediency".
