Police reform hopes recede

Hopes that Northern Ireland’s police reforms will be ready by the end of the month appeared to be receding tonight as rival unionists began to explore the possibility of agreeing a joint strategy to change them.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble will meet his Democratic Unionist counterpart, the Rev Ian Paisley this week, possibly as early as tomorrow, in talks on a plan to make the reforms more favourable to their community.