US Congressman: 'SF want to join Policing Board'

Sinn Féin wants to get involved on Northern Ireland’s Policing Board but it is a question of when, a senior United States Congressman claimed today.

New York Congressman Jim Walsh said after a round of meetings with Northern Ireland parties, including Sinn Féin, that he believed the party understood that America wanted to see them involved on the board, which holds the police to account.

“They understand that the US government, supporting the two governments (British and Irish), would like to see Sinn Féin involved on the Policing Board,” he said.

“We did discuss that.

“I think the issues that they have raised are known to all of you. There’s certainly a long history here and sensitivities within the nationalist community.

“But I believe that they want to. I think it is a question of when, not if.

“They know how important it is for there to be devolved government here in Northern Ireland.

“I do not know their timing but I believe it will happen.”

Sinn Féin is the only party to refuse to take its seats on the Northern Ireland Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships across Northern Ireland.

Republicans will not endorse policing because they claim reforms have not gone far enough.

The SDLP has taken its seats and urged its supporters to join the police.

Sinn Féin has called for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont and the British government is currently preparing legislation to enable that to happen once parties have settled on the type of ministry at Stormont.

Republicans have also criticised Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde’s Police Service of Northern Ireland, claiming that there are elements within its ranks engaged on political policing operations against the party.

The British, Irish and US governments, political parties in the Republic and Northern Ireland and the Catholic Church have said since 2001 that they believe Sinn Féin should have joined the Policing Board by now.