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Blair 'to reassure over MI5 role' | Blair 'to reassure over MI5 role' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Tony Blair is to set out the distinct role of police and security services in Northern Ireland, in a written statement to the Commons on Wednesday. | Tony Blair is to set out the distinct role of police and security services in Northern Ireland, in a written statement to the Commons on Wednesday. |
The move follows intensive negotiations between the government and Sinn Fein on policing over the Christmas period. | The move follows intensive negotiations between the government and Sinn Fein on policing over the Christmas period. |
It is believed the government hopes the statement will reassure nationalists about MI5's future role. | It is believed the government hopes the statement will reassure nationalists about MI5's future role. |
Sinn Fein sources believe it may answer nationalist doubts about interference by the security services in policing. | Sinn Fein sources believe it may answer nationalist doubts about interference by the security services in policing. |
Republican sources suggest it may mean an end to any suggestion of secondments between the police and MI5. | Republican sources suggest it may mean an end to any suggestion of secondments between the police and MI5. |
There are also suggestions that a new Policing Board sub-committee will be set up to deal with security. | There are also suggestions that a new Policing Board sub-committee will be set up to deal with security. |
Both the SDLP and Sinn Fein have raised questions about oversight of the security services. | Both the SDLP and Sinn Fein have raised questions about oversight of the security services. |
MI5 is building a £20m headquarters in Palace Barracks outside Belfast. | MI5 is building a £20m headquarters in Palace Barracks outside Belfast. |
Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said his party was awaiting with interest the prime minister's statement . | Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said his party was awaiting with interest the prime minister's statement . |
"This statement must put in place mechanisms to ensure the complete separation of MI5 from civic policing," he said. | "This statement must put in place mechanisms to ensure the complete separation of MI5 from civic policing," he said. |
"There can be no integration of MI5 and the PSNI." | "There can be no integration of MI5 and the PSNI." |
The SDLP have expressed concern that settling for an apparent separation of MI5 would diminish any likelihood of the Police Ombudsman being able to hold the security service to account. | |
BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said while the details of the statement have not been disclosed it is thought it may confirm a monitoring role over MI5 for the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Alex Carlile who currently oversees anti-terror laws. | |
Sorting out policing is critical to restoring devolution. | Sorting out policing is critical to restoring devolution. |
Fresh powers | Fresh powers |
Meanwhile, it emerged in the assembly on Monday that police in Northern Ireland are to be given fresh powers to seize documents and files in order to tackle serious crime. | Meanwhile, it emerged in the assembly on Monday that police in Northern Ireland are to be given fresh powers to seize documents and files in order to tackle serious crime. |
Detectives could seize material without any explicit reason to suspect crime. It is understood similar laws are not planned for Great Britain. | Detectives could seize material without any explicit reason to suspect crime. It is understood similar laws are not planned for Great Britain. |
Security minister Paul Goggins said searches would not be "willy-nilly". | Security minister Paul Goggins said searches would not be "willy-nilly". |
SDLP MLA Alex Attwood said that at a time when other security measures are being relaxed, more stringent police powers should not be introduced. | SDLP MLA Alex Attwood said that at a time when other security measures are being relaxed, more stringent police powers should not be introduced. |
"How can you on the one hand normalise Northern Ireland society and on the other hand give the police this enormous power?" he asked on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster. | |
"(Officers could) go into any building under a lawful search and seize any document, even if there is no suspicion of that document being relevant to crime." | "(Officers could) go into any building under a lawful search and seize any document, even if there is no suspicion of that document being relevant to crime." |
The assembly's policing and justice committee debated the issue on Monday. | The assembly's policing and justice committee debated the issue on Monday. |