- Jan 6, 2018
- 11,637
After some discussion between the British Cabinet, and specific representatives of Northern Ireland; the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Andrew Leggs MP, has confirmed a series of precautions in place as a result of the u-turn by the Irish Government regarding the status of Northern Ireland. As a result, the following changes has been signed off:
- There has been a substantial increase in Police Presence across the Irish Border. This contains officers remaining in Northern Ireland but generally been more cautious of those entering from Ireland. A large number of this extra presence contains armed response officers. This comes since the concept of invasion and military action was hinted by Brazil and the Irish Government; regardless of whether it was a 'proposed' factor or not. This increase was not made public thus was private and was changed over time to minimize the recognition of change.
- Diplomatic Mission Staff have been confirmed to have left Ireland and are back on British soil in Northern Ireland. These personnel were to be debriefed and re-assigned to other diplomatic missions since the closure of the Irish Embassies.
- The Royal Irish Regiment have been set to 'Operational Standby' which means they ought to be ready to be deployed to an active war zone. In this case, they've been informed and fitted to be ready for crowd control which will be deploy-able in the event of any riots near the border. Unsure how the Irish population would handle the aggressive negotiation by the Irish Government, it was a precaution in the event of a return to 'The Troubles'.
- No. 58 Squadron, A Flight which is home to three AgustaWestland Puma HC MK1's is been relocated to Belfast which is a permanent positioning to provide supply movement for Northern Ireland; something it has lacked for some time. The Ministry of Defence have confirmed this move is not related to the new policy from Ireland.
- There has been a substantial increase in Police Presence across the Irish Border. This contains officers remaining in Northern Ireland but generally been more cautious of those entering from Ireland. A large number of this extra presence contains armed response officers. This comes since the concept of invasion and military action was hinted by Brazil and the Irish Government; regardless of whether it was a 'proposed' factor or not. This increase was not made public thus was private and was changed over time to minimize the recognition of change.
- Diplomatic Mission Staff have been confirmed to have left Ireland and are back on British soil in Northern Ireland. These personnel were to be debriefed and re-assigned to other diplomatic missions since the closure of the Irish Embassies.
- The Royal Irish Regiment have been set to 'Operational Standby' which means they ought to be ready to be deployed to an active war zone. In this case, they've been informed and fitted to be ready for crowd control which will be deploy-able in the event of any riots near the border. Unsure how the Irish population would handle the aggressive negotiation by the Irish Government, it was a precaution in the event of a return to 'The Troubles'.
- No. 58 Squadron, A Flight which is home to three AgustaWestland Puma HC MK1's is been relocated to Belfast which is a permanent positioning to provide supply movement for Northern Ireland; something it has lacked for some time. The Ministry of Defence have confirmed this move is not related to the new policy from Ireland.