Adams demands policing be devolved to Stormont

The British Government must honour commitments to devolve policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont, Gerry Adams insisted today.

The Sinn Féin leader highlighted the transfer of the powers as a key challenge for the North’s politicians after his national executive in Dublin approved plans for a series of events this week marking the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The West Belfast MP noted: “In the course of the past 12 months there has been significant progress particularly in ensuring that the Agreement’s power sharing and all-Ireland institutions are up, running and progressing.

“However there are still many challenges ahead in particular the transfer of policing powers, Irish language rights and building the economy.

“At this time Sinn Féin is particularly focused on ensuring that the British government honours the public commitment to transfer powers on policing and justice away from London and into the hands of locally elected politicians.

“The transfer of powers is not an abstract notion. Putting control of policing and justice into the hands of the Assembly and the Executive is vital for the establishment of a policing service which is democratically accountable and representative of the community it serves.

“It is also vital if we are to ensure that we have a policing service which is responsive to the needs and demands of the people and one which can effectively work with local communities in tackling issues like anti-social behaviour. So in the time ahead much work remains to be done.”

Last month, a Northern Ireland Assembly committee failed to reach agreement on when responsibility for the police and the courts should be transferred from Westminster to Stormont.

Mr Adams said in addition to the transfer of powers there were a number of other key issues which the Stormont Executive and the Rev Ian Paisley’s successor as DUP leader would have to address.

These included Irish Language rights, a Bill of Rights, the future of the Maze Prison site and equality.

These issues would be discussed at a series of party meetings reflecting on 10 years of the Agreement, he said, starting in Belfast this Tuesday and taking place in Strabane, Lurgan, Londonderry, Toomebridge, Cavan, Hilltown, Silverbridge and Galbally.

“We want to find a resolution to these and other issues,” Mr Adams said.

“But we will not allow the basic rights and entitlements agreed 10 years ago to be diluted or diminished.

“The Agreement continues to be the road map to a better future for all of the people on this island.”

The Sinn Féin executive was also briefed by Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald on preparations for the party’s campaign against the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty in Ireland's referendum.