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Police jobs are 'solely on merit' Police jobs are 'solely on merit'
(40 minutes later)
The Policing Board has met to discuss the political row which developed over the appointment of Hugh Orde as chief constable. The Policing Board has met privately to discuss the political row which developed over the appointment of Sir 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".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 Board chairman, has written to Mr Durkan demanding an apology.Sir Desmond Rea, the Policing Board chairman, has written to Mr Durkan demanding an apology.
At Wednesday's meeting he said appointments were "solely on merit".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."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.""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. Mr Durkan's claim resulted in Sir Hugh sending an email 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. It also angered unionist and independent members of the board.
The DUP is expected to call on Sir Desmond to hold an inquiry into the SDLP's claim. In its public session earlier on Wednesday, the board discussed Sinn Fein's commitment to policing and the Police Ombudsman's report into collusion between Special Branch officers and the UVF.
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.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is to present his policing report and a presentation on the police response to the statement by the ombudsman.
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.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde also attended the sessions.
The board is to review the PSNI response to the recommendations made in the ombudsman's report within six months.