THE Northern Secretary hopes to initiate early reforms of the RUC to make it a more accountable and effective force. Writing in yesterday's Belfast Telegraph, Dr Mo Mowlam said new legislation on parades would take into account the "fears and sensitivities" of both Orangemen and nationalists.
Dr Mowlam said she was aiming not to force a political settlement but to provide the right atmosphere for agreement.
Pledging to reform the RUC, she said: "Unfortunately much of the debate has focused on names and symbols. These are significant matters but we believe that now is the time to concentrate on reforming the future structure and style of policing.
"We will be making changes to the RUC and the Police Authority to increase accountability and effectiveness." These changes would be in line with the recommendations of the Hayes Report on reforming police complaints procedures, she said.
It proposed the appointment of an ombudsman to investigate serious crime and malpractice by RUC officers.