by Q Radio News
The Police Ombudsman has announced she is investigating the PSNI's handling of a 'Black Lives Matter' protest in Derry/Londonderry.
It follows a complaint from a member of the public, involving allegations of inconsistencies in the policing approach to engagement and enforcement at the event at Guildhall Square in June 2020, when compared with the funeral of Bobby Storey in the same month.
The complainant alleges that the inconsistencies amount to race discrimination.
The watchdog Marie Anderson has a statutory duty to investigate qualifying complaints about police conduct and and is satisfied that the complaint received on 6th April 2021, is one she needs to probe.
A spokesperson for the police ombudsman said, "The investigation will focus on matter related to the engagement of the PSNI with the organisers of the Black Lives Matter protest in Guildhall Square, Derry/Londonderry in advance of the event.
"The investigation will examine if this engagement was consistent with the PSNI's approach to the organisers of Bobby Storey’s funeral.
"The investigation will also examine the PSNI strategy, policies and decision-making around the two events in light of this complaint."
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