Orde: ‘No reason not to devolve policing powers’

PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde has told a Northern Assembly committee that he believes there is no reason why policing and justice powers should not be devolved to Stormont by May.

Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward has identified the move as a key priority for 2008, but has accepted that it may not happen by the original target date of May.

Sinn Féin wants the deadline to be met and says it was a key factor in influencing the party's decision to endorse the police.

However, the DUP says unionists want to wait until they have further confidence in republican intentions.

The DUP says the IRA army council must be disbanded and republicans must engage in a longer period of support for policing before such powers are transferred from London to Stormont.