Policing deal unacceptable, says UUP

The Ulster Unionists said tonight that they would not be supporting the landmark deal to devolve policing powers to the North at a crucial Assembly vote next week.

Party leader Reg Empey said the Hillsborough Agreement on law and order transfer and parading was not acceptable in its current form.

While Stormont's two main parties - Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionists - have the electoral strength to push through the accord when it is put before the Assembly on Tuesday, a "no" vote from the UUP will deprive them of the unanimous support they crave.

The party's decision is potentially problematic for the Conservative Party, which has an electoral pact with the UUP in the North.

David Cameron is a supporter of the Hillsborough deal and he now faces the prospect of going to the polls aligned to a party which opposes it.

Empey announced his party's position after holding all-day talks with Assembly colleagues in Templepatrick, Co Antrim.

The East Belfast MLA said the Stormont Executive needed to demonstrate an ability to address other outstanding issues facing it - such as the uncertainty over education reforms - before it could be trusted with security powers.

"It remains our view that the current Executive must be capable of exercising its existing powers before such an important issue as policing and justice is devolved," he said.

He and his colleagues have now sent a series of proposals to the other parties in the Assembly designed to tackle the matters of concern to his party.

Empey said he would examine any responses to that document over the next 72 hours and did not totally rule out a change of position ahead of Tuesday.

"Over the coming days we will continue to monitor progress on matters contained within our document," he said.

"The Ulster Unionist Party remains committed to devolution and to providing strong, stable and effective government for all the people of Northern Ireland.

"Our party executive will meet on Monday to hear a report from the leader and take a final decision."