New agreement to strengthen cross-border police links

A new protocol aimed at strengthening ties between the police on both sides of the Irish border is due to come into effect today.

Ulster Secretary John Reid and Justice Minister John O’Donoghue are due to sign an agreement at Stormont aimed at improving communications links between the new Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Siochanna.

The accord, which arose out of the Patten Commission’s police reform recommendations, will enable the exchange of personnel on both sides of the border.

It will also facilitate the lateral entry of Garda officers into the police north of the border in a bid to address religious imbalance the PSNI inherited from its predecessor, the Royal Ulster Constabulary whose membership was overwhelmingly Protestant and unionist.

Lateral entry was a key demand of nationalist SDLP negotiators last year in return for them supporting the PSNI and taking their seats on the Policing Board which holds the service accountable.

A Stormont source said today’s agreement was ‘‘another key stage in the implementation of the Patten reforms.

‘‘Greater co-operation between police on both sides of the border will prove particularly important in the fight against organised crime.

‘‘The agreement aims to improve communication between the two police services and will enable the PSNI and Gardai to draw on each other’s experience.’’

The agreement has been welcomed by a nationalist member of the Policing Board.

SDLP chairman Alex Attwood said his party had ‘‘pressed both governments vigorously since the publication of Patten for arrangements to be put in place to enable transfers between An Garda Siochanna and the PSNI.

‘‘This is further evidence of the new beginning to policing and creates the prospects of Garda officers having a full role and full powers within the PSNI.

‘‘Greater co-operation between the police services is essential internationally and it is now being developed way beyond other exchange agreements involving the PSNI and Gardai.