Adams accepts PSNI's legitimacy, says Orde
Gerry Adams has now accepted there is only one legitimate police service in the North, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said today.
The pair will hold face-to-face talks next week to discuss crime in the Sinn Féin leader's West Belfast constituency, as well as wider problems between some republicans and the PSNI.
Mr Adams earlier this week stressed that the IRA would never again police republican areas.
"It's a very powerful statement from Gerry Adams," said Orde.
"Those sort of statements contribute to the new world because it's de facto saying there is only one police service in Northern Ireland - and it's mine."
The North's most senior police officer, who only last week hit out at what he said is unwarranted criticism of his rank-and-file by Mr Adams, again berated the Sinn Féin president for engaging in megaphone diplomacy.
"We are where we are because people have challenged us, that's really powerful. But it's how you challenge [that's important] and I think sweeping statements at funerals through megaphones is not constructive," he said.
"What's hugely constructive is the fact that we are meeting. We will have a sensible robust conversation but we need to learn from each other."
Speaking to delegates at a Public Relations Institute of Ireland breakfast briefing in Dublin, Orde said the next big debate in the peace process was about Sinn Féin's stance on policing and that the issue was about to reach a critical stage.
"I still think we have a huge way to go with some of the leaders of the Republican movement and the police service," he said.
"But we have been talking to representatives of Sinn Féin for years.
"The first public meeting that I had with Gerry Adams was important, it was symbolically important, but the reality is for many years police officers from my organisation and the RUC were talking to Sinn Féin behind the scenes to try and move this world on."
He added: "I will talk to anyone, regardless of their background, if they want to make a difference to policing and we have had some very strange meetings in some very strange places."
The PSNI Chief Constable and Mr Adams are to meet next Friday, April 18, in Belfast.
"I want to tell my story about policing and I want to listen to what his concerns are," said Orde.
"Success is if we work together and iron out those issues."
He also issued a warning to loyalist criminal gangs after UDA leader Jackie McDonald insisted they would continue to police loyalist areas.
"If people think they are going to do policing then they can think about going to prison," he said.
Referring to the conviction of leading loyalist criminal Ihab Shoukri yesterday, Orde said: "I await with interest what sentence those people get, because it sends out a very clear message.
"If those people get banged up for a sensible period of time for having the audacity to start making terrifying claims that the UDA are not going away then they need to reflect on that and they can reflect on it inside for several years."
