NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE The League has had responses to a number of issues (involving road policing and burglaries) we raised with Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson following an interview he did with Manx Radio (Mandate) in early May. CL News regulars will recall the Minister was a bit abusive about the Celtic League (see link) though the tone of his latest written response is much more measured. Minster Watterson says in relation to Police actions following spillages by vehicles carrying contaminated silt to a landfill in the West of the Isle of Man from Peel Harbour: ?On the subject of environmental health involvement in assisting the police in enforcing road traffic legislation; I would suggest that it is reasonable for police officers to seek advice from fellow professionals before determining the appropriate method for enforcing legislation?. We would agree absolutely that police may need specialist advice periodically and for example some years ago when the threat from HIV and AIDs became more of a concern there was considerable discussion between Public Health, Police and Highways agencies over how to deal with blood contamination at RTCs. However, the issue at Peel Harbour was not to do with contaminants. Any action over a threat to environmental health is an issue for the Environmental Health authorities. The issue was one of the insecure nature, or otherwise, of material being carried on commercial vehicles and that is a matter solely for the police. So I?m afraid the Isle of Man Constabulary and the DHA ?hiding behind the skirts? of Environmental Health is (forgive the pun) a bit of a ?cop-out?. On an unrelated point Minister Watterson also comments on the spate of burglaries that bedevilled the Isle of Man earlier this year. Here his comment is extremely positive and welcome. He says: ?With regard to the spate of recent burglaries, I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made in this area and it is likely that we have successfully disrupted these burglars.? The extremely confident tone of the Ministers statement would seem to indicate arrests may be imminent which will be a relief to the Island community and especially to those people who have had to endure the trauma of these intrusive crimes J B Moffatt (Mr) Director of Information Celtic League 15/05/15 (Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.) ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE. The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues Download our News App for Android here. Internet site at: (voir le site) (voir le site) Share this!
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