North's leaders to discuss policing with Brown

The North's First and Deputy First Ministers are due to meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London today for talks on the devolution of policing powers to Stormont.

The power-sharing Executive was expected to assume responsibility for policing and justice sometime this autumn.

However, there is now speculation that the DUP may seek to delay the move following its poor performance in the recent European elections.

The unionist party faced a tough challenge from the Traditional Unionist Voice, which was set up by DUP hardliners opposed to sharing power with Sinn Féin.

The DUP has consistently refused to set a date for the devolution of policing, saying it will only approve the move when the unionist community has confidence in Sinn Féin's bona fides.