NI policing plan hits another stumbling block

The Democratic Unionists were tonight under mounting pressure to clarify exactly what it will take for them to agree to devolving policing powers to Stormont.

The demand from Sinn Féin – the DUP’s partner in the North’s powersharing administration – came after senior party figure Jeffrey Donaldson said a decision to axe a police reserve unit could potentially scupper negotiations to transfer law and order responsibilities from Westminster.