fantassin
01-09-2005, 11:03 AM
THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND-A SUMMARY
First arriving in NI in 1969 to protect the Catholic community from sectarian violences, the British Forces saw a quick rise in its strength as public order broke down in Ulster.
In 1972, the Armed Forces troop level rose to an all-time high of 17,000 servicemen and women emanating from 26 major units; that figure rises to 27,000 when the UDR is included. In that year, no less than 131 Army and UDR soldiers were killed by the various paramilitary groups of the Province. In total, since 1969, 763 military personnel were killed in NI or outside the Province by Irish paramilitary groups.
Today, the number of servicemen and women commanded by and available to the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) stands at approximately 14,000 of which 12,000 are based in the Province, the others being kept on rapid deployment status in their home garrisons.
Role of the Armed Forces in NI
The official role of the armed forces in Northern Ireland as stated in the mission statement of the GOC NI is as follows:
“To support the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the defeat of terrorism and the maintenance of Public Order in order to assist Her Majesty’s Government’s objective of returning Northern Ireland to normality.”
In general terms, there has been a steady reduction in military activity in recent years in Northern Ireland as the threat from terrorism and sectarian disorder has known a marked decline. Today, the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI, the Ulster Police) can carry its policing mission in more than two-third of the Province without routine military support. Currently, military support to the Police can be classified as follows:
-Routine Support: Includes providing protection to PSNI in carrying out its normal missions in areas of terrorist threat, patrolling around Army and Police bases, deterrence of terrorist attacks and support to the Police in its counter-terrorist operations.
-Additional Support: Assistance where the PSNI has insufficient assets of its own. This can include observation posts (OPs) along the border with the Republic of Ireland, increased support during times of civil disorders or the providing of heavy plant equipment, armoured vehicles or helicopters etc.
-Specialist Support: Includes EOD teams, dog handlers or SCUBA divers for example.
The Legal framework of the armed forces’ deployment
Each military deployment is either requested or agreed by the police and will only be undertaken if a threat to the police (which is the principal law enforcement agency), the general public or law and order is perceived and justifies this deployment. Military personnel remain on the ground only for as long as is appropriate and they have to adopt the lowest physical profile appropriate to the task.
When deployed in support of the police, the armed forces operate within the law and the Emergency Provisions Act, especially the Terrorism Act 2000, the Criminal Law Act 1967 and Common Law. The rule of law applies to Northern Ireland as to the whole of the United Kingdom.
-Forces
Nine infantry battalions (each is about 650 strong) are dedicated to Northern Ireland. They comprise four “resident” battalions on two year tours of duty (generally in a quieter area, the families of married soldiers being accommodated on base by the Army) one “roulement” battalion on a six month tour of duty in an area of higher threat, three Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions permanently based in Northern Ireland and recruiting in the local community, and one General Service Battalion based in the UK.
Force troops
Force troops come under the direct orders of GOC NI and they provide “core services” such as logistics, aviation, communications, engineering or intelligence. Those units are 25 Regiment, Royal Engineers based in Antrim, 6 Regiment, Royal Military Police based in Lisburn, the Joint Helicopter Force (NI) flying Gazelle, Lynx and Puma helicopters out of RAF Aldegrove, 15 Signal Regiment, Royal Signal based in Lisburn and the Northern Ireland Combat Service Support Regiment based in Kinnegar, Co. Down.
-The Royal Irish Regiment (RIR)
The RIR is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army and it was formed in Northern Ireland on 1 July 1992. It arose from an amalgamation of The Royal Irish Rangers and The Ulster Defence Regiment and is part of the Regular Army. It has one battalion in the UK and three NI based battalions.
It has both a specific structure and a staunch un-official Unionist tradition that is reflected in its recruits who are almost exclusively Protestant even though all races and creed can serve in the RIR. Officially, “the Royal Irish Regiment positively seeks to recruit from all sectors of the community from throughout the British Isles”. In reality, so far, the recruiting drives in the Catholic community have met with little success.
-Normalization and the Peace process
The Armed Forces continue to take part in the movement towards normalisation in Northern Ireland and 63 military bases and installations have been closed or demolished since 1995.
First arriving in NI in 1969 to protect the Catholic community from sectarian violences, the British Forces saw a quick rise in its strength as public order broke down in Ulster.
In 1972, the Armed Forces troop level rose to an all-time high of 17,000 servicemen and women emanating from 26 major units; that figure rises to 27,000 when the UDR is included. In that year, no less than 131 Army and UDR soldiers were killed by the various paramilitary groups of the Province. In total, since 1969, 763 military personnel were killed in NI or outside the Province by Irish paramilitary groups.
Today, the number of servicemen and women commanded by and available to the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) stands at approximately 14,000 of which 12,000 are based in the Province, the others being kept on rapid deployment status in their home garrisons.
Role of the Armed Forces in NI
The official role of the armed forces in Northern Ireland as stated in the mission statement of the GOC NI is as follows:
“To support the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the defeat of terrorism and the maintenance of Public Order in order to assist Her Majesty’s Government’s objective of returning Northern Ireland to normality.”
In general terms, there has been a steady reduction in military activity in recent years in Northern Ireland as the threat from terrorism and sectarian disorder has known a marked decline. Today, the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI, the Ulster Police) can carry its policing mission in more than two-third of the Province without routine military support. Currently, military support to the Police can be classified as follows:
-Routine Support: Includes providing protection to PSNI in carrying out its normal missions in areas of terrorist threat, patrolling around Army and Police bases, deterrence of terrorist attacks and support to the Police in its counter-terrorist operations.
-Additional Support: Assistance where the PSNI has insufficient assets of its own. This can include observation posts (OPs) along the border with the Republic of Ireland, increased support during times of civil disorders or the providing of heavy plant equipment, armoured vehicles or helicopters etc.
-Specialist Support: Includes EOD teams, dog handlers or SCUBA divers for example.
The Legal framework of the armed forces’ deployment
Each military deployment is either requested or agreed by the police and will only be undertaken if a threat to the police (which is the principal law enforcement agency), the general public or law and order is perceived and justifies this deployment. Military personnel remain on the ground only for as long as is appropriate and they have to adopt the lowest physical profile appropriate to the task.
When deployed in support of the police, the armed forces operate within the law and the Emergency Provisions Act, especially the Terrorism Act 2000, the Criminal Law Act 1967 and Common Law. The rule of law applies to Northern Ireland as to the whole of the United Kingdom.
-Forces
Nine infantry battalions (each is about 650 strong) are dedicated to Northern Ireland. They comprise four “resident” battalions on two year tours of duty (generally in a quieter area, the families of married soldiers being accommodated on base by the Army) one “roulement” battalion on a six month tour of duty in an area of higher threat, three Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions permanently based in Northern Ireland and recruiting in the local community, and one General Service Battalion based in the UK.
Force troops
Force troops come under the direct orders of GOC NI and they provide “core services” such as logistics, aviation, communications, engineering or intelligence. Those units are 25 Regiment, Royal Engineers based in Antrim, 6 Regiment, Royal Military Police based in Lisburn, the Joint Helicopter Force (NI) flying Gazelle, Lynx and Puma helicopters out of RAF Aldegrove, 15 Signal Regiment, Royal Signal based in Lisburn and the Northern Ireland Combat Service Support Regiment based in Kinnegar, Co. Down.
-The Royal Irish Regiment (RIR)
The RIR is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army and it was formed in Northern Ireland on 1 July 1992. It arose from an amalgamation of The Royal Irish Rangers and The Ulster Defence Regiment and is part of the Regular Army. It has one battalion in the UK and three NI based battalions.
It has both a specific structure and a staunch un-official Unionist tradition that is reflected in its recruits who are almost exclusively Protestant even though all races and creed can serve in the RIR. Officially, “the Royal Irish Regiment positively seeks to recruit from all sectors of the community from throughout the British Isles”. In reality, so far, the recruiting drives in the Catholic community have met with little success.
-Normalization and the Peace process
The Armed Forces continue to take part in the movement towards normalisation in Northern Ireland and 63 military bases and installations have been closed or demolished since 1995.