Durkan and Reid to discuss policing issues

SDLP leader Mark Durkan is due to meet Northern Secretary John Reid today to discuss policing in the North.

The recent break-in at Castlereagh police station in Belfast, during which Special Branch documents were stolen, is expected to top the agenda.

Mr Durkan has already expressed scepticism about the appointment of a senior British civil servant to investigate the break-in because of his close links with the British intelligence services and the fact that the break-in appeared to be an inside job.

Other issues up for discussion at today’s meeting are the planned reinstatement of the British royal crest in courtrooms and British proposals to dilute reforms in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.