Unionist leaders are to meet again to discuss policing

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley have discussed the future of policing in Northern Ireland.

In a private meeting lasting just 40-minutes in the Parliament Buildings at Stormont, the two unionist leaders agreed that discussions should begin on the issues surrounding the future of policing in light of the Northern Ireland Secretary of State’s recently published proposals on policing in the province.

According to a DUP spokesperson the two leaders will meet again on Friday, and although no details were forthcoming following the meeting it is understood that policing is high on the agenda.

Monday’s meeting is the first formal session of talks to take place between the leaders of the two unionist camps since the God Friday Agreement was thrashed out three years ago. It is thought that the unionist parties may be seeking to develop a unified strategy on policing following the publishing of the policing implementation plan.

Neither of the two main unionist parties has put forward members for the 19-strong policing board. Of the two main nationalist parties only the SDLP have backed the proposals, with Sinn Fein claiming the policing issue is not yet resolved.

Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson said the policing plan represented a way forward for all the parties and that Unionist plans to renegotiate on policing risked destroying the political progress made in recent times.

Mr Neeson warned: “By capitulating to the anti-Agreement tribe and going back to the negotiating table when negotiations were supposed to be over, David Trimble risks losing everything that has been achieved in the past three years.” (SP)