Poll shows backing for devolved police powers

Pressure was mounting on the Ulster Unionists today to drop their opposition to the landmark deal to devolve policing powers to the North after a new government poll indicated sizeable public support for the move.

Three quarters of people in the region wanted law and order functions transferred to Stormont, according to the Northern Ireland Office survey published last night.

The suggested 75% endorsement for the transfer of security responsibilities to the power-sharing administration is higher than the support (71%) for the historic Good Friday Agreement in the 1998 referendum in the region.

The results were published hours after the UUP restated its intention to oppose the devolution at a crucial vote in the Assembly tomorrow.

Significantly, out of those people polled who considered themselves as UUP voters, 73% said they wanted to see the powers transferred.

While Sinn Fin and the DUP have the electoral strength to push through the so-called Hillsborough Agreement when it is put to the vote at Parliament Buildings, a rejection from the UUP will deprive them of the unanimous support they crave.

The UUP will make a final decision on whether or not to back the move at a meeting of the party’s executive tonight.

But a change of heart looked unlikely last night after party leader Reg Empey said nothing substantive had been done to assuage his concerns about the accord.

He remained steadfast in his stance despite forthright criticism from the DUP and Sinn Féin over the weekend and an intervention by the pro-deal US administration in the shape of phone call from secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

It remains to be seen if the poll findings will prompt a rethink.

The UUP claims the Stormont government needs to demonstrate an ability to address other unresolved matters – such as the uncertainty over education reforms – before it can be trusted with security powers.

Last night, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said it was clear the public at large wanted to see the deal done.

“This poll shows that overwhelming community confidence has been firmly established across all communities in Northern Ireland for the transfer of policing and justice powers in the coming weeks,” he said.

“It is very clear that the public strongly supports the leadership of those who want to complete devolution as agreed at Hillsborough Castle.

“I strongly urge all politicians to recognise with this strong evidence of public confidence that there should be a unanimous Yes vote on Tuesday which in turn will secure the £800m (Treasury support package) for the new Department of Justice.

“This is the last piece of the devolution jigsaw and it will deliver in the coming weeks and months the conditions for more investment and more jobs for Northern Ireland.”

He said a unanimous Yes vote would send a very clear message to dissident republican terrorists intent on wrecking the peace process.

But hours before the poll was published, Mr Empey had insisted his party would not be pushed into supporting the agreement.

“I want to make it clear that the UUP will not be blackmailed or bullied by anybody over our attitude to the devolution of policing and justice,” he said last night.

“We have approached this issue with a view to ensuring that the powers that Stormont currently has are being exercised properly before we add to the list. So far, we have either been shut out or our reasonable requests have been rejected.”

However, he did not fully close the door on a potential change of position ahead of the UUP Executive meeting tonight.

A Stormont working group jointly chaired by Mr Empey to look at improving the functioning of the regional government meets later this morning and the UUP leader said those discussions could have some impact on his party’s thinking.

And he said while no talks were scheduled today with Mr Robinson or Mr McGuinness, he would welcome a meeting with the leaders.

“If something arises, then it arises,” he said. “I would be very willing to meet.”

The proposal to devolve powers in April was outlined in the landmark Hillsborough Agreement that was hammered out between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein last month.

The accord also contained plans to deal with a series of outstanding issues facing the Stormont executive, including changes to the way contentious loyal order parades are managed.

When asked whether they backed the overall Hillsborough deal, 67% of respondents were supportive and 13% opposed.

The poll showed that 67% of Ulster Unionist supporters favoured the agreement reached at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down.

In answer to a further question on who was best placed to make decisions on policing in Northern Ireland, 68% said that local ministers would be better while 14% would stick with Direct Rule ministers.

Of Ulster Unionists who responded to this proposition, 63% were in favour of local ministers being in control.

The latest political developments came as the Orange Order signalled its backing for parading proposals contained in the Hillsborough deal.

On Saturday, an overwhelming majority at the organisation’s quarterly meeting welcomed progress made through the joint Sinn Féin/DUP plan.