British government given peace process warning

The peace process will be plunged even deeper into crisis if ex-paramilitary prisoners are allowed to sit on police scrutiny bodies before the IRA disbands, the British government was warned tonight.

New policing legislation designed to win Sinn Fein backing for the service and restore the power-sharing administration at Stormont is set to be put to the political parties in Belfast tomorrow.

It is also expected to meet the nationalist SDLP’s demands to give Northern Ireland’s police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan more powers and allow chief constable Hugh Orde’s policing board to launch inquiries into the force.

But the biggest gamble would be a lifting of the ban on terrorists sitting on the 29 District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) which monitor local commanders’ performance.

With the Government desperate to win Sinn Fein backing for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Secretary of State Paul Murphy has thought long and hard about taking the hugely controversial step.

London and Dublin hope this would trigger a major response from the Provisional movement on arms and restore confidence in devolved government shattered over allegations of alleged IRA spying at Stormont.

A special Sinn Fein party conference could be called early next year to allow the party’s rank and file to debate any decision to join the policing board.

However, the Ulster Unionists have already vowed to quit the body if the DPPs are opened up to ex-paramilitaries before the IRA declares its military campaign over.

And one of the party’s senior members, Sir Reg Empey tonight cautioned a premature ending of the block could take the process to breaking point.

He said: “If this was lifted, as things stand at the moment it would put a huge strain on the entire system.

“It basically puts the cat in charge of the cream.

“If you are going to give seats on these boards to an organisation that is still breaking the law that creates a major crisis.”

The hardline Democratic Unionist Party’s policing spokesman Ian Paisley Jr also warned the Government against making a “grave error“.

He said: “It would be a massive blow to the DPP’s credibility at a time when the IRA has done everything in their power to undermine security in our country.”

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman tonight confirmed Security Minister Jane Kennedy will begin a series of meetings with the political parties on the draft policing legislation in Belfast tomorrow.

Sinn Fein claim changes to the old Royal Ulster Constabulary have not met the Patten blueprint for reform.

The chief constable and the British government are still able to veto elected representatives decisions, republican leaders insist.

But if they were satisfied with what is now on the table then there could be rapid progress towards breathing new life into the peace process.

The SDLP are expected to be the first to discuss the legislation with Ms Kennedy at Castle Buildings, Stormont.

The party’s policing spokesman, Alex Attwood, claimed the revised plan was a vindication for the stance it took at the Weston Park all-party talks in Staffordshire in July last year.

The West Belfast MLA said: “We are interested in substantial matters such as powers for the police ombudsman and the policing board.

“We want to see the legislation around the DPPs changed by this is more of a self-serving matter for Sinn Fein.”