April 2003:The British and Irish governments agree a joint declaration which, when implemented, leads to a gradual demilitarisation of Northern Ireland.
July 2005:
The IRA announces it is to stand down its units and will commit itself to change by purely peaceful and political means.
August 1st, 2005:
The British government announces it will follow a policy of what it calls “security normalisation” or demilitarisation. The policy results in the gradual removal of thousands of British soldiers, the closure of barracks and the dismantling of much of the army’s security.
The British army is committed to reducing its troop levels to garrison strength (around 5,000 personnel).
In reality, the actual number of troops in Northern Ireland is to be lower due to large numbers being based in the North but posted overseas.
August 2005:
Progress on the removal of much of the British army’s security presence is to be monitored and reported on by the two governments’ ceasefire watchdog, the Independent Monitoring Commission. A completion date of July 2007 is agreed.
July 31st, 2007:
Operation Banner, the name given to the deployment of British troops in the summer of 1969 at the advent of the conflict, is formally brought to an end.
Lasting 38 years and comprising the army and the Royal Air Force, it was the longest single engagement in British military experience.
It is replaced by Operation Helvetic which envisaged a more “normalised” military presence in Northern Ireland with lighter security and more integration between British troops and local communities.
December 2008:
The British army downgrades its command structure, removing the last General Officer Commanding (GOC) and replacing him with a brigadier.
Maj Gen Chris Brown tells The Irish Times: “Scotland doesn’t have its own GOC, Wales doesn’t. The only reason we have hung on to a GOC in Northern Ireland is because of that residual support for the police, and that is no longer necessary.”