Retain Police Reserve, Says DUP

Political posturing continued today with news that the Democratic Unionist Party has called for the full-time police reserve to be retained.

This is one item on a new 'shopping list' that has been produced by the party as fresh Downing Street talks between Northern Ireland's political leaders and PM Gordon Brown on the devolution of policing powers ended without agreement yesterday.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson said more work was needed on financial issues and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said talks were at a "crucial point".

Sinn Féin and the DUP have been arguing over when powers should be devolved.

The DUP also insists on the scrapping of the Parades Commission as part of its price for devolving policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland.

The DUP also wants former police and army personnel in Northern Ireland to be allowed to retain personal protection weapons.

The call came from the DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson (pictured) who said: "There are two matters on which we need to make progress, one is the policing and justice budget, the other relates to the building of confidence within the community.

"We are putting forward our design to achieve both objectives, we need to get progress on both."

Sinn Féin wants to see devolution by Christmas, but the cost of a devolution deal is thought to be in the region of £600m and is still in discussion with the Prime Minister.

The DUP shopping list is said by the party to be essential in building unionist confidence in the transfer of policing powers from London to Belfast.

However, Sinn Féin has since branded the DUP demands as a "side issue".

For further details, see: DUP Policing 'Wish List' Dismissed

(BMcC/GK)