Hay defends Operation Exposure

Following the recent publication of what appeared to be very young children, allegedly involved in so-called recreational rioting at traditional sectarian flashpoints such at the Fountain/Bishop Street area, criticism flowed from some quarters claiming that their publication was an abuse of civil rights.

However, William Hay said that after speaking with senior police figures in Londonderry the policy is helping reduce incidences of interface violence.

"Petrol bombers need to realise that whatever part of the city they are doing this in, they are going to seriously injure or kill people.

"If they know they are going to photographed doing this it will make them think twice about it. Let's face it, people in homes for the elderly are feeling the brunt of this and the response to this has to be fast.

"Police are sometimes criticised for their lack of response, but I do not believe they can be criticised in this instance. Police tell me that since the publication of these pictures instances of violence at interface areas have reduced.

"At the same time it has to be remembered that this needs to be dealt with properly. If police had any other recourse to prevent this, they would do it. But, I would also say that since that it is working in this city it should be rolled out across other parts of Northern Ireland where similar things are taking place," he said.

Whilst Mr Hay said he appreciated that the policy was exposing very young children and may result in prosecutions ending in criminal records, such instances are dealt with very sensitively.

"Nobody wants to see any youngster getting into trouble or appearing in court, but the police have a duty to perform and up until now this has been working and has been dealt with in a measured way by the PSNI," Mr Hay said.