Bill for devolution of policing powers in North due this month
Legislation to enable the devolution of policing and justice from London to Belfast will be introduced in the British parliament before the end of the month, it was announced today.
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward gave notice of the British government’s intention to introduce the legislation ready for when the Stormont Assembly finally asks for devolution of the powers and Westminster agrees.
He said it was “a vital build block in the devolution process which will be followed through when the parties agree a date”.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been holding up the final piece of the devolution jigsaw until it decides the public will accept policing and justice to be under the control of an administration including its partner in government Sinn Féin.
Mr Woodward said the British government had given a commitment during the St Andrews talks in autumn 2006 that when the parties in the North were ready to complete devolution with the transfer of policing and criminal justice powers from him to a locally accountable minister, the necessary legislation to allow it to happen would be in place.
He said: “The legislation, which will be introduced on February 23 and have its Second Reading on March 4, fulfils that commitment and maintains the momentum towards the completion of devolution that was signalled by the agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein on November 18.
“The Bill deals with technical points which will allow the Assembly to move to the next stage of completing devolution.”
Mr Woodward pointed out the route map published by First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness last November had included Westminster legislation to give effect to those elements of the process which required primary legislation.
No time scale for when the DUP may be ready to proceed has been revealed, but it is thought highly unlikely to be this side of the European elections in June.
