Policing Devolution Deal On The Way?

Some details have emerged of the much-anticipated 'letter of offer' from the Prime Minister on the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly.

Amid news that Gordon Brown is to resume talks on policing and justice with Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers later today, it is understood the offer includes a commitment to complete the police training college in Cookstown.

It also involves the transfer of additional former military bases to the Northern Ireland Executive, including the Lisanelly base in Omagh, which has been earmarked for an educational campus.

Although outside this intensely political debate, the news so far has been welcomed by NI's second most senior police officer.

PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said: "The Chief Constable has not had sight of the details of the settlement for the devolution of policing and justice.

"However, we can state that we are encouraged by the progress to date and we look forward to working with the Northern Ireland Policing Board on taking the proposal forward."

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin - which has been the most energetic driver of the bid to complete the transfer of these last powers from Westminster - has today formally welcomed the PM's financial offer on the devolution of justice after a meeting in Dublin.

"The Sinn Féin Officer Board met in Dublin today to decide on a formal party response to the financial package put forward by the British government to enable the transfer," said a statement this afternoon.

"The party Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness recommended to the Officer Board that we proceed on the basis of this financial package.

"The Officer Board today accepted this recommendation and Martin McGuinness will inform the British government of this in discussions in London this evening," the statement said.

However, the DUP Leader Peter Robinson said his party would not be 'spooked by pressure' to agree a deal.

The party still wants clarification on some aspects of the package.

But Mr Robinson said he would discuss it with both the police and the court service.

"The funding offer from the Prime Minister which we received goes beyond anything on offer previously," Mr Robinson said.

"By holding our nerve, we have a package today which is hundreds of millions of pounds higher than it was only a week ago."

Addressing a dinner for the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust in Belfast on Monday evening, he said it was vital to get the terms for devolving policing right.

"The issues affect every home in Northern Ireland and I do not exaggerate when I say the difference between an effective and properly funded police service and one starved of resources is, in some cases, the difference between life and death," he said.

"That is why my approach to devolution has been focused on obtaining the best possible settlement from the Treasury."

A DUP party statement also said: "We will want to have discussions with the Conservative Party to gauge their intentions should they form the next government."

Meanwhile, other MLAs are feeling 'left-out'.

SDLP Policing Spokesperson Alex Attwood said the financial package on offer from Gordon Brown on policing and justice needs to be discussed by the Assembly and is not a matter for the exclusive consideration of DUP and Sinn Féin.

Mr Attwood, who is a member of the Stormont Assembly Executive Review Committee, brought a motion to the committee today calling for the full disclosure of Gordon Brown’s offer to be made available to the committee.

The motion was carried even though Sinn Féin was the only party that voted against it.

Speaking after the committee meeting, Mr Attwood said: "I welcome that the Assembly Executive Review Committee voted that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister should forward a copy of the Prime Minister's devolution offer to the committee without delay."

See: Clinton Flies In To Stormont Debate

(BMcC/KMcA)