Transfer of police powers critical issue for republicans

The transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont is essential to securing republican involvement in policing in Northern Ireland, a senior Sinn Féin figure said today.

Policing spokesman Gerry Kelly told the party’s Ard Fheis in Dublin there was still much work to be done before republicans could get involved, with a third act of Parliament required in Westminster to transfer power.

But he also admitted republicans feared getting policing “horribly wrong” once it had been achieved.

The North Belfast Assembly member said: “Critical to the new beginning of policing and justice is the issue of the transfer of powers to Ireland through the local Assembly, the executive and hence into an all-Ireland context through the all-Ireland institutions.

“But transfer of powers is also crucial because it is the only way that control of policing and justice can ultimately be wrested out of the hands of British securocrats in London and the NIO (Northern Ireland Office) who have run policing as a paramilitary force for generations.

“The transfer of powers will require the enactment of a third Parliamentary act by the British government, surrendering power on policing and justice matters which are currently controlled by the NIO and by London.

“Without transfer, policing and justice will remain unaccountable and a tool of repression.”

Among the issues Mr Kelly said still needed to resolved were:

:: A ban on plastic bullets, with an accountability mechanism set up in the meantime to make British soldiers who fire them answerable.

:: Additional resources for Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan to carry on her work.

:: Commitments to boost the number of Catholics in the police reserve.

:: The publication by the British government of retired Canadian judge Peter Cory’s report on four controversial killings during the Troubles – the murders of solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, Catholic father of three Robert Hamill and Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright.

:: Acknowledgement by the British government of alleged collusion between the security forces in Northern Ireland and loyalist terror groups.

Mr Kelly said there was also a resistance to change amongst some in the police.

This could be seen by the regrouping of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in various branches of the Police Service of Northern Ireland like “the new variations of Special Branch such as REMIT.”

The North Belfast MLA noted unionists, British politicians and sometimes other nationalists had accused Sinn Fein of being “insatiable” in its demands for policing.

“Let me be clear,” he said.

“Those who have suffered from bad policing want proper policing more than anyone else.

“That includes me, the parents of Holy Cross, the residents of the Short Strand or north Belfast or south Armagh or Tyrone, sex crime victims, drugs victims, car crime victims, victims and survivors of collusion and all the others who want a better way of life who want justice on an equal footing.”

Mr Kelly said unionists were afraid of losing “their police force,” whether it was the PSNI or RUC.

But he admitted: “If we are honest, republicans too have a fear of achieving the new beginning to policing.

“We fear getting it horribly wrong. Our whole lives have been in rebellion against a police force in rebellion against us.

“The whole idea of a police service in the Six Counties (Northern Ireland), transitional or otherwise is a massive debate.”