Policing is too important for “political mischief”

Speaking after the DUP and UUP leaders held talks on the future of policing in Northern Ireland, SDLP MLA for Foyle Mark Durkin said that policing was part of the overall implementation of the agreement, and that parties must regard it as such.

He added that mischief making for political or personal benefit must not be tolerated given the importance of both policing and the agreement.

Mr Durkin said: “The posturing now taking place is more about parties keeping themselves right against each other, rather than keeping the agreement right for the sake of everyone. The Policing Implementation plan was put forward by the two governments as part of a package aimed at securing the full implementation of the agreement. Policing is not an issue to be messed with, nor is it an issue to be taken on its own. Those who are meddling with it are doing so at the expense of the agreement.”

It is believed the meeting focused on the government’s implementation plan which outlines in detail changes to be made to the RUC a it is transformed into the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein has rejected the blueprint, which aims to redress the gap between the current policing proposals and the 175 recommendations made by the Patten Commission two years ago.

Mr Durkin added: The SDLP undertook its positive response to the implementation plan in this context. The SDLP has and will remain serious about the implementation of the agreement and the new beginning for policing. It is clear that the entire community is calling for a Police Service, which all can give their allegiance to, but this is being held up as parties use the issue for political mileage.

“The truth is that the PSNI will be set up under the new Implementation Plan. Anti-Agreement and Anti-Progressive elements within Unionism will have to get used to that fact.”

To date, the SDLP is the only party to have signed up to the policing board. (CD)