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PSNI set to respond on collusion Police jobs are 'solely on merit'
(about 7 hours later)
The PSNI is set to give its response to a report into collusion between Special Branch officers and loyalist killers in north Belfast to the Policing Board. The Policing Board is meeting to discuss the political row which developed over the appointment of Hugh Orde as Chief Constable.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed last month his party had ensured that Sir Hugh was appointed in 2002 and not a policeman from "the old RUC order".
Sir Desmond Rea, the Policing Coard chairman, has written to Mr Durkan demanding an apology.
At Wednesday's meeting he said appointments were "solely on merit".
"There has been much focus on the appointment processes and practices of this board," he said.
"I can assure the public and any candidate for senior posts within the board or PSNI that the board is committed to equality of opportunity and operates to the highest standards of employment practice making appointments based solely on merit."
Mr Durkan's claim resulted in Sir Hugh sending an e-mail to nearly 10,000 officers under his command, in which he accused nationalist politicians of insulting the PSNI and using policing as a political football.
It also angered unionist and independent members of the boardy.
The DUP is expected to call on Sir Desmond to hold an inquiry into the SDLP's claim.
Collusion
The Ulster Unionists are expected to call for a retraction and a public apology to board members.
The PSNI is set to give its response to a report into collusion between Special Branch officers and loyalist killers in north Belfast to the board at the meeting.
NI's Police Ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind more than a dozen murders in the 1990s.NI's Police Ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind more than a dozen murders in the 1990s.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is to present his policing report and a presentation on the police response to the statement by the ombudsman.Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is to present his policing report and a presentation on the police response to the statement by the ombudsman.
A public meeting of the Policing Board is expected to take place later.
There will also be a presentation on the quarterly assessment of performance against the current policing plan.There will also be a presentation on the quarterly assessment of performance against the current policing plan.
Last month, Mrs O'Loan briefed the Policing Board on her findings of RUC collusion with loyalists at a special meeting.Last month, Mrs O'Loan briefed the Policing Board on her findings of RUC collusion with loyalists at a special meeting.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde also attended the sessions.Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde also attended the sessions.
At the time, board chairman Professor Desmond Rea said it wanted to be "satisfied that the problems highlighted in the report have been or are being addressed".
The board is to review the PSNI response to the recommendations made in the ombudsman's report within six months.The board is to review the PSNI response to the recommendations made in the ombudsman's report within six months.
SDLP claim
Meanwhile, the row over the SDLP's claim that it influenced the appointment of Sir Hugh Orde as Chief Constable is also expected to be discussed.
This will be the first public meeting of the board since SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed in a newspaper advert last month that his party had ensured that Sir Hugh was appointed and not a policeman from what he called "the old RUC order".
The claim resulted in Sir Hugh sending an e-mail to nearly 10,000 officers under his command, in which he accused nationalist politicians of insulting the PSNI and using policing as a political football.
It also angered unionist and independent members of the policing board and Sir Desmond Rea, the chairman, has written to Mr Durkan demanding an apology.
The DUP is expected to call on Sir Desmond to hold an inquiry into the SDLP's claim.
The Ulster Unionists are expected to call for a retraction and a public apology to board members.