Police reforms in North set to continue

British government plans to press ahead with police reforms in Northern Ireland today triggered a new battle for nationalists’ hearts and minds.

As the Queen’s speech confirmed moves to introduce amendments during the next parliament, the SDLP and Sinn Fein accused each other of making huge blunders.

SDLP policing spokesman Alex Attwood claimed his party had been vindicated because the British government now planned to strengthen Police Service of Northern Ireland watchdogs.

He declared: “We have been proved right and Sinn Fein have got it wrong.”

But the republican party’s Gerry Kelly insisted the British government had still to convince the public the Patten blueprint for reforming the force would be honoured.

In the speech delivered to the House of Lords, the Queen said: “Legislation will be brought forward on policing in Northern Ireland.”

The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill now set to be introduced follows on the Police Act 2000 and fully implements the Patten recommendations.

The new legislation has emerged from British government pledges made in the revised Patten Implementation Plan published in August last year.

That scheme followed the all-party talks held at Weston Park, Staffordshire the previous month.

The SDLP claimed it had won a number of key commitments during those negotiations, including greater powers by the Policing Board and the Ombudsman to launch inquiries and a stronger emphasis on community policing.

Mr Attwood, one of the SDLP members on the board which scrutinises Chief Constable Hugh Orde’s performance, insisted the British government was now sticking to the promises it made.

“We now need to have the legislation tabled quickly and passed quickly in order to build on the achievements in the last year by the Policing Board and the PSNI,” he added.

“Sinn Fein said we would get no commitments but this shows otherwise.”

However, Mr Kelly insisted what was agreed at Weston Park was still not enough.

With republicans demanding the complete abolition of Special Branch and the scrapping of baton rounds, he said: “We want to see an unambiguous commitment by the British government to implement the Patten proposals in full.

“Today’s speech offered the British government an opportunity to say they would do this. They haven’t done that.”

Despite his disappointment that more detail was not included, the North Belfast MLA did not completely reject the plans.

He added: “The British government’s intent will ultimately be judged by the quality of their legislative amendments and whether they bring the current act in line with Patten.”

The Queen’s speech also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Good Friday Agreement even though the peace process has been engulfed in crisis.

Northern Ireland’s devolved Assembly was suspended last month after allegations of IRA spying saw unionist confidence in sharing power with republicans hit a new low.

But with Secretary of State Paul Murphy planning round table talks with all parties, the Queen said: “In Northern Ireland, my government will continue to work closely with the political parties and the Irish Government to secure the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement.”