Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Gob Lofa (talk | contribs) at 12:22, 6 August 2015 (Add influence, ref). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

RUC Special Branch was the Special Branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. It was heavily involved in the British state effort during the Troubles, especially against the Provisional Irish Republican Army. It worked closely with MI5 and the Intelligence Corps. It came under criticism for its handling of its agents within paramilitary organisations, including from other RUC officers. Perceived infiltration of the Special Branch by members of the Orange Order meant it wasn't entirely trusted by MI5 or the British Army. John Stalker said he "had never experienced...such an influence over an entire police force by one small section".

References

1. RUC Special Branch independent fiefdom did 'as they liked', Irish Times, 14 December 2012
2. Nigel West, Historical Dictionary of British Intelligence, p. 438
3. https://books.google.pl/books?id=CbJtAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=ruc+special+branch&source=bl&ots=IkfED3tRu-&sig=36wVhCK3hHcMaqmdCGXY93hZsHs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFAQ6AEwCTgoahUKEwj-tKyJtZTHAhVCaxQKHQ7WCdE#v=onepage&q=ruc%20special%20branch&f=false

• Law enforcement in Northern Ireland
• Royal Ulster Constabulary
• The Troubles (Northern Ireland)