DUP justice spokesman Ian Paisley Jr says the Police Board has already made up its mind to reject his call for an independent inquiry into a special branch chief's claim that he was forced out to appease republicans.

The Ulster Unionists have threatened to resign their seats on the Police Board if Sinn Fein ends its boycott and takes up two seats on the board.

The Police Oversight Commissioner in the North has criticised the slow pace of change in Special Branch.

There has been criticism from both nationalist and unionists to the proposed changes to the new Police Bill.

The Police Board in the North has decided to give the full-time police reserve a two-and-a-half year reprieve.

Ulster Unionist MP, David Burnside, says his party would pull out of the Police Board in the North if the British government tables new proposals to bring the law into line with the Patten Report.

The SDLP and Sinn Fein have again exchanged angry words over policing reforms in the North.

The SDLP have accused Sinn Féin of failing its electorate by not recognising the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The SDLP has accused Sinn Fein of abandoning their responsibilities by refusing to join the Police Board.

Those who attack young Catholic police recruits in Northern Ireland are attempting to prevent the establishment of a force acceptable to the entire community, it was claimed today.

Loyalist claims that republicans are masterminding street disorder to boost their vote in next year’s Assembly elections are laughable, a senior Sinn Fein figure claimed tonight.

Plans to join Special Branch with CID in Northern Ireland have failed to meet reform demands for a complete merger, according to a new report published today.

A senior Metropolitan police officer investigating allegations of collusion between members of the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries is in the running for the top job in Northern Ireland’s new police service.

Just two people are believed to have applied for the job of chief constable in the North’s police force following the resignation of Ronnie Flanagan earlier this year.

Sinn Fein and the former SDLP leader John Hume have clashed over policing in the North and the republican movement’s continuing boycott of the Police Board.

With the departure of Ronnie Flanagan, Northern Ireland’s new policing service was today losing one of its most articulate and controversial figures.

The new Police Board in the North says crime, public order and drug tackling are its top priorities in the year ahead.

A unionist member of the North’s Police Board has refused to attend a passing out ceremony for 40 recruits next week.

Sinn Fein will eventually sign up to Northern Ireland’s new policing structures on the back of others’ work on the Police Board, Stormont Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan claimed today.

The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland says he has no doubt a further act of decommissioning is being considered by the republican movement, but that he has no concrete intelligence that such a move is imminent.

The North’s police board is locked in talks this afternoon over whether police chief constable Ronnie Flanagan should remain in his job until a suitable replacement is found.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to review progress on policing in Northern Ireland and other aspects of the Good Friday Agreement during talks today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today urged Sinn Fein to sign up to Northern Ireland’s new policing arrangements when legislation amending police reforms is laid before Westminster later this year.

The Police Board in the North are expected to announce today that they will not accept Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan’s offer to stay on an extra six months until his successor is named.

The North’s Police Board will meet in private session later today in an effort to resolve the row over Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s scathing report into the police handling of the Omagh investigation.

Moderate nationalists in Northern Ireland must be commended for going on the Police Board despite their concerns, US Senator Edward Kennedy said today.

The North’s Police Board has cancelled its first ever public meeting, which was scheduled for tomorrow.

The North's Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan has arrived for his meeting with the Police Board.

The North’s Police Board is due to meet chief constable Ronnie Flanagan and Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan today to discuss the row sparked by the latter’s damning report into the Omagh investigation.

Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing say they will demand a public inquiry if the Police Board doesn’t address their complaints.

Relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombing will meet members of the North’s Police Board on Monday after hearing chief constable Ronnie Flanagan’s response to criticism of the RUC investigation into the 1998 attack.

The US Government’s special envoy to the North, Richard Haass, is due to meet the Police Board during a two-day visit to the six counties this week.

A meeting of the North’s Police Board to discuss the Ombudsman’s critical report of the Omagh investigation has been postponed.

The North’s Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan, says the Police Board should not be allowed deal with the controversial report on the Omagh bombing.

Chief Constable of the North's Police Service, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has said that the dissident Real IRA are the chief suspects behind last night's car bomb in Birmingham.

The name of the North's police force changed at midnight, consigning the title of 'Royal Ulster Constabulary' to history.

The British Government was today poised to put into operation a series of measures to bolster the Northern Ireland peace process in the event of an IRA act of decommissioning.

The creation of a Police Board of Unionists and Nationalists in Northern Ireland is a momentous step forward for the peace process, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid said today.

Sinn Fein Chairperson Mitchell McLaughlin said he was not surprised by reports that rival unionist leaders David Trimble and Ian Paisley are in contact over the proposed police reforms.

A UUP assemblyman has called on his party to join the North's new police board.

The political parties in Northern Ireland have been given until Tuesday to decide if they will accept or reject the new-look police service as set out in the Government’s latest implementation plan.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has dismissed an SDLP opinion poll, which shows some nationalists believe both parties should participate in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Northern Secretary Peter Mandelson are in conflict over reducing the military presence in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness claimed today.