Warning over policing board 'polarisation'

An independent member who is quitting the North's Policing Board today warned it could become more polarised than ever.

With Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists poised to claim an unprecedented five seats on the authority, Tom Kelly claimed the party was trying to appoint its own chairman to replace Desmond Rea.

He said: “I find it offensive that they now want to select certain types of unionists or Protestants.”

The public relations chief revealed his frustrations with the politics surrounding the body that holds Chief Constable Hugh Orde to account.

Until now, DUP and nationalist SDLP membership on the 19-member Board has been evenly balanced, with each party holding three seats. The Ulster Unionists have four representatives.

But after major electoral triumphs for the DUP, it is set to win new strength on the authority when it is reconstituted in October.

As the North’s biggest political party, it will hold five positions.

Sinn Féin’s continued boycott of the policing arrangements means the Ulster Unionists would cling on to three seats, with the SDLP quota slipping to two.

Even though Mr Kelly is an SDLP member, he was appointed by the British government as one of nine independents on the board set up as part of the Patten blueprint for reforming the police service.

Yet, with the sweeping revamp looming in October, the 41-year-old has decided against any further involvement.

Mr Kelly admitted: “Part of the reason would be the increased DUP representation and what could be the polarisation of the board.

“Four years is also long enough to be on a public body.”

Mr Paisley, who has held talks with new Northern Secretary Peter Hain, is understood to be opposed to current chairman Rea serving again.

But Mr Kelly went further, alleging: “The DUP are making it quite clear they will not accept anybody other than a DUP chairman.

“We can’t be heading for that type of society.”

Sources have suggested Mr Kelly, who helped Eddie McGrady hold on to his Westminster seat for South Down, has been approached with a view to succeeding the veteran MP at the next General Election.

He would not comment on any future political plans, however, stressing that it was too far off to consider.

But his assessment of DUP strategies drew a withering response from one of the party’s board members.

Ian Paisley Jr said: “If I was to say that I wouldn’t serve in an organisation that had a particular type of Jew or Catholic on it, people like Tom Kelly would be trying to have me censured.”

Questioning Mr Kelly’s commitment to the authority, the North Antrim MLA added: “He has problems when it comes to attending.

“People will judge for themselves the calibre of the person making the comments by their actions.

“In future when the government appoints independent members they should appoint fully independent members as opposed to party hacks.”

It is understood advertisements for independent posts on the board will be published before the end of the month.

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: “The government is currently working on the appointment process to facilitate the reconstitution of the board by October of this year.

“The reconstitution may necessitate the appointment of new independent members.”