Survey shows North population backs devolution
15/09/2008 - 19:20:25Most people support devolving policing and justice powers to the North within the next year, a government survey revealed tonight.
With UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown arriving in Belfast tomorrow for talks with local politicians, new polling showed 58% backed handing down security powers from Westminster.
That is a key demand of Sinn Féin, which has been refusing to attend ministerial Executive meetings in protest at alleged lack of progress.
There have been fears power-sharing could collapse if a backlog stretching to June is not tackled on Thursday.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said: "For the third time the polls show that the people of Northern Ireland, from across the communities, are devolutionists.
"They want to see policing and justice powers transferred from Westminster to Stormont. They want to see the process of devolution, which they voted for in March 2007, completed."
Mr Woodward's Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has consistently pressed for the move, even though a deadline of last May was missed.
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