Rea and Gilligan re-elected to Policing Board positions

The chairman and deputy chairman of the North's outgoing Policing Board have been re-elected to the positions on the incoming body.

Desmond Rea and Barry Gilligan were elected unopposed during the first full meeting of the new board today.

The meeting was the first to be attended by Sinn Fein's three members following the party's decision to endorse the PSNI earlier this year.

One of the main items up for discussion today is the final report from the Oversight Commissioner set up to oversee the transformation of the RUC into the PSNI.

His report says the number of Catholic officers has increased from 8% to 21% in recent years, but more still needs to be done to increase their numbers in the top ranks.