Durkan accuses SF over policing board

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin hinted yesterday that the amending legislation would be crucial in determining if his party would claim the two seats it has refused to take on the 19-member Policing Board.

Mr McLaughlin said: “We have now secured a commitment from Tony Blair that he will introduce amending legislation that will bring the policing arrangements up to the minimum threshold of Patten.

“That will be a significant development and it will be a challenge that Sinn Fein will rise to when and if that happens.”

Stressing his party’s desire to take part in the new policing arrangements, Mr McLaughlin continued: “When and if he gets round to making these necessary amendments to the legislation, and producing and delivering on his commitment to Patten, then Sinn Fein will step up to the mark.

“We will not shirk the very difficult challenge that will pose for us.”

Sinn Fein has boycotted the board, which is designed to hold the Police Service of Northern Ireland accountable, because it believes the British government’s reforms do not go far enough.

The party has claimed that the Chief Constable is not accountable enough and that the Special Branch’s powers are still too strong, and has also been fiercely critical of the continued use of plastic bullets during riots.

In August last year, the SDLP became the first nationalist party in the history of Northern Ireland to endorse the police, taking its three seats on the board.

Sinn Fein’s refusal to take its two seats on the board meant extra places went instead to David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists, which has four members and the Rev Ian Paisley’s hard-line Democratic Unionists, who have three.

Mr Durkan, MLA for Foyle and Deputy First Minister in the Stormont power-sharing executive, accused Sinn Fein of trying to “play both sides” of the policing debate.

He said: “On the one hand, Sinn Fein has appeared quite prepared to dangle speculation that it is going to face up to its responsibility and go on the board and on the other, it has been quite eager to indulge in propaganda against those participating in the policing arrangements.

“Mitchel McLaughlin’s comments are interesting because he has indicated that provided the policing legislation is amended as Tony Blair has committed himself to, Sinn Fein will go on the board.

“Those commitments were made at the Weston Park talks last year on the basis of the efforts of the SDLP and the Government.

“So if Mitchel McLaughlin is saying Sinn Fein will join the Policing Board on the basis of the fulfilment of commitments won at Weston Park, then the question arises as to how Sinn Fein can sustain the propaganda it has used against the SDLP with respect to plastic bullets, Special Branch and the performance of the police along the interface areas?”

Sinn Fein was also accused yesterday by an Ulster Unionist member of the Policing Board Fred Cobain of trying to “creep” on to the scrutinising body.

The North Belfast MLA said: “Sinn Fein can’t remain outside the police service. All this nonsense about amending legislation is just so they can creep in the back door.

“If there are further concessions to Sinn Fein so ex-republican paramilitaries can join the policing board I won’t be on it,” he added.

“Any attempt to undermine our position and I will recommend to the party that we all come off.”