Police in the North are to comply with a court order to hand over top secret reports on an alleged officer shoot-to-kill policy during the Troubles, a senior commander revealed today.

The North's Chief Constable today said he was happy with the £1bn (€1.1bn) financial package secured for the devolution of policing powers to the region and was ready and willing for the move to go ahead.

A major security operation will be in place across the North today amid fears dissident republicans intend to mark the arrival of the new chief constable with violence.

The North's new chief constable has vowed to build on the work of the man he will succeed, Hugh Orde.

The North's Policing Board has approved the use of Taser stun-guns despite strong opposition from the SDLP and Sinn Féin.

The British government has announced the make up of the North's new 19-member Policing Board.

A racial row is set to be reignited inside the Northern Ireland Policing Board, it emerged tonight.

Members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board have backed moves to sack a Democratic Unionist representative who harassed a gay colleague.