A PSNI commander has defended a police decision to escort a marching band whose shirts carried the Parachute Regiment badge saying the wearing of the symbol was "provocative".
ACC Alan Todd spoke out on Monday morning amid controversy about a decision by officers to flank the Clydevalley Flute Band as they joined the Apprentice Boys parade in Derry on Saturday.
The senior officer said that "given the context" regarding the "space, the symbols and the history, no one could argue" there was a "potential to raise tensions" and that could have lead to disorder.
ACC Todd said police "sought to engage in a constructive way" with the band, however "they chose not to do so".
Further efforts to resolve the situation by speaking to organisers and marshals failed, so police had an operational decision to make to "prevent a likely breach of the peace".
Asked about accusations police were heavy handed, ACC Todd said: "I see no grounds for using that description", adding police's "engagement before, during and after the parade was discussions and negotiation".
He said it "confounds me" that people could describe their handling of the situation as heavy handed.
The police commander also defended the questioning of band members after the parade saying it was their role to "take steps to identify people in the band" for the Public Prosecution Service to decide if there is any liability for any alleged offences.
Overall, he added, given the scale of the event it was a "successful policing operation", although one that was "clearly not without controversy".
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