Loyalist paramilitaries were present during racist rioting

The Chief Constable of the the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has told the Policing Board that members of loyalist paramilitaries were present during racist rioting last month.

Violence broke out in the streets of Belfast and other areas across Northern Ireland after footage of a violent knife attack was shared on social media.

Jon Boutcher said some of those loyalist paramilitaries were involved in directing the violence at a number of locations including in east Belfast.

He said “the picture is inconsistent with regard to the paramilitaries”.

Boutcher said the PSNI had information that some paramilitary members had dissuaded their members from getting involved in the disorder while others had not.

Boutcher said the disorder had been driven online by individuals from both loyalist and republican communities.

People had travelled from across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland in order to take part in the protests, according to the PSNI.

Shortly after the disorder the PSNI said there was “no evidence” it was coordinated by loyalist paramilitaries.

Boutcher also addressed the cost of policing June’s disorder.

He told the board that the estimated cost of policing the riots and protests was £5.4m.

He thanked the Westminster government for their support of £4m but said that the PSNI would have to cover the shortfall from its budget.