The statement made by Mr John Hume, SDLP leader, on the policing implementation plan was as follows:
The SDLP have consistently sought a new police service for Northern Ireland, and our approach has been based on common sense. In other words, we want our policing to be similar to policing in any normal democratic society - a police service whose membership is drawn from all sections of the community and has the loyalty and support of all sections of the community.
This approach formed the basis of the principles on policing outlined in the Good Friday agreement and the recommendations of the Patten report.
In that regard we welcomed the Patten report on the issue of policing and we have since worked very hard in meetings with both governments, detailed meetings with the Secretary of State, and sustained work at Westminster and internationally to secure the full implementation of Patten. We accepted our responsibility to play a full role in delivering a new police service which is acceptable, accessible and accountable.
Following that process of detailed work on this issue, the British government last week published its implementation plan arising from Patten. We have scrutinised its contents rigorously, testing the plan against the detail of Patten and the requirement of a new beginning to policing.
We now welcome that implementation plan and we will be playing our necessary role as public representatives in delivering all aspects of the plan as part of the unfolding implementation of the two governments' package, "Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement".
We will respond positively to an invitation to join the policing board and we will be encouraging people from all sections of the community to join the new Police Service. The creation of the new beginning for policing is best served by participation in the Police Service and its structures, and by continuing parliamentary and political efforts to secure the new beginning for policing.
That will be totally in keeping with our commonsense and very democratic approach to ensure that our policing service is organised and governed by representatives of all sections of the community, and therefore accountable to the community. That is true democracy and is a necessary step in the implementation of the Good Friday agreement and all its aspects.
In addition, in order to secure that full implementation, the SDLP calls for:
The immediate publication of the Criminal Justice Implementation Plan, together with draft legislation.
The establishment of an implementation group to meet and review the implementation of the Good Friday agreement.
Development of a progressive programme to achieve normalisation. (The SDLP will be making further proposals to achieve the benefits of normalisation for all.)
The agreeing of a comprehensive all-party statement on the institutions which is fuller in scope and balance than that proposed by the governments.
The immediate re-engagement by the IRA with the IICD and for all paramilitary groups to establish a sustained process which will completely and verifiably achieve decommissioning.
We call on all parties and both governments to renew the dialogue in order to address these issues.
