DUP 'won't be blackmailed over policing powers'
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will not be blackmailed into accepting the swift transfer of policing powers to Stormont, it warned today.
Its South Antrim MP, William McCrea, was reacting to a call by Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward for movement on the issue.
Mr Woodward said dissident republicans were using the delay in devolving the powers to foment political instability – but the DUP rejected any attempt to link the issues.
“This is an outrageous assertion by the Secretary of State,” said Mr McCrea.
“To suggest that the activity of dissident republicans will be boosted if policing powers are not transferred in a particular way is a worrying statement from the government.”
Sinn Féin insists the transfer of policing and justice powers is a commitment of the St Andrews agreement which paved the way for Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government last year.
But the DUP has blocked the move until more is known about how any new justice ministry will work.
The parties are locked in talks over the issue and a series of other disputed policies.
The stand-off has raised concerns over the operation of the Stormont Assembly’s ruling Executive.
Yesterday Mr Woodward said: “One of the things that worries me about the amount of time that is left between stage one and stage two of devolution is that it presents an opportunity for dissidents.”
He pointed to a series of murder bids on police launched by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process and linked it to the political uncertainty.
“I don’t think it is by chance that we’re seeing more (dissident violence) than we have at any time over the last four or five years,” said Mr Woodward.
Mr McCrea said he had called for dissident republican groups to be crushed by the security forces.
He added: “The DUP has consistently said in its manifesto and in other policy papers that the devolution of policing and justice will be based on the confidence of the electorate.
“There is not sufficient confidence within the unionist community for republicans to have any involvement in the transfer of policing and justice powers.
“We have stated that unionists are not opposed to Stormont having such powers; however, it is high time the Secretary of State realised that he will not blackmail the DUP into taking a particular position on these matters. We will make our decision when the confidence within the unionist community exists to support such a move.”
