New proposals for North's policing unveiled

RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan has produced his proposals for neighbourhood policing for the future along the lines proposed by the Patten report.

The plans allow for a local input with district partnership boards and civilian recruitment to enable officers to spend more time on the streets.

New district commander for west Belfast, Brian McCargo, said he shares Sinn Fein's aspirations for the area of safer communities and reduced levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.

However, Sinn Fein dismissed the proposals, saying a repackaged RUC would not mean a new start to policing and fundamental issues remain unsolved.