Recognition Of The Royal Ulster Constabulary (Gc) Part-Time Reserve

EDM number 691 in 2004-05, proposed by Jeffrey Donaldson on 08/02/2005.

That this House pays tribute to the courageous and professional service provided to the entire community in Northern Ireland by the members of the Part-Time Reserve of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (GC) from its formation in 1970 to its replacement by the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve in 2001; salutes the bravery of the men and women who served as part-time officers and acknowledges the huge sacrifice they made to protect the community from terrorism, with 53 part-time officers murdered by terrorists, equivalent to one in six of all police officers murdered in the troubles, and many hundreds injured in the course of their duties; notes that part-time reservists were often required to serve in excess of 100 hours per month at the height of the terrorist activity in addition to holding down their regular occupation and that they did so at considerable personal risk to themselves and their families; notes that there was no pension provision for the Part-Time Reserve and regrets the lack of recognition for these reservists with only one BEM, one MBE and one QGM awarded to part-time officers; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in consultation with the Policing Board and the Chief Constable, to make an appropriate gratuity payment to all part-time reserve officers who served a minimum of three years with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (GC) in recognition of their excellent service to the people of Northern Ireland.

This motion has been signed by a total of 60 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.