Garda and PSNI officers will soon be able to apply for senior positions on either side of the Border, the SDLP said yesterday, writes Dan Keenan, Northern Editor.
Party spokesman on policing, Mr Alex Attwood, was speaking after a meeting in Dublin yesterday with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell.
Mr Attwood said last night that he expected legislation to be passed by the Dáil around Easter. This will facilitate officers to apply for and serve as senior officers in either jurisdiction.
At present the Garda and the PSNI are able to second officers or agree long-term personnel exchanges, but these officers do not operate with "constabulary powers". The new measures will give them full powers.
