Sinn Fein 'must act on policing'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6224131.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Sinn Fein's "begrudging movement" on policing reduces the prospect of any immediate action towards restoring devolution, Ian Paisley has said.

However, in his new year message the DUP leader said his party would "not be found wanting" if Sinn Fein honoured its commitment "with actions".

Sinn Fein has voted for a conference on the issue of supporting policing.

Mr Paisley said Sinn Fein support for policing and justice would "break down unionist mistrust and suspicion".

"This year can be a year of delivery," he said.

"Quality support for the police, the courts and the rule of law would do much to change the mistrust and suspicion held by the unionist electorate and the sooner we have delivery, the better for us all.

"Unionism has not been found wanting in its desire to see a flourishing and full administration restored to Stormont which will allow local men and women to run this country effectively.

"It is only with real, substantive and quality delivery that this process can and will move forward in 2007."

Annual commemoration

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has told republicans that now is the time for them to get involved with policing.

He told hundreds of people who gathered at a commemoration in County Fermanagh on Sunday that he wanted a frank debate before the party's special ard fheis on the issue later this month.

For years republicans stayed outside policing because that was the best way to bring about change Gerry AdamsSinn Fein president

Mr Adams was speaking near Roslea at an annual commemoration for two IRA men who were shot dead during an attack on an RUC station in nearby Brookeborough 50 years ago.

"For years republicans stayed outside policing because that was the best way to bring about change," he said.

"Now we want to move in because that's the best way to maximise the change that has been secured," he said.

He said that if the special conference backed the leadership's recommendations on policing they would ensure that "political policing, collusion and the force within a force" would be a thing of the past.

The Sinn Fein move on Friday to call for a special conference on policing was welcomed by Downing Street and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Sinn Fein support for policing would be viewed as removing one of the main obstacles to restoring devolution.

More than two-thirds of the executive voted in favour of the meeting.

The party has historically opposed recognising the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and its predecessor the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), because of what it sees as a Protestant bias within the service.