Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has now accepted there is only one legitimate police service in Northern Ireland, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable Sir Hugh Orde said today.
Sir Hugh Orde and Gerry Adams
The pair will hold face-to-face talks next week about crime in the Sinn Féin leader’s west Belfast constituency and wider problems between some republicans and the PSNI.
Mr Adams earlier this week stressed that the IRA would never again police republican areas.
“It’s a very powerful statement from Gerry Adams,” Sir Hugh said. “Those sort of statements contribute to the new world because it’s de facto saying there is only one police service in Northern Ireland - and it’s mine.”
What’s hugely constructive is the fact that we are meeting. We will have a sensible robust conversation but we need to learn from each other - Sir Hugh Orde
The North’s most senior police officer, who only last week hit out at what hesaid is unwarranted criticism of his rank-and-file by Mr Adams, again berated the Sinn Féin president for engaging in megaphone diplomacy.
“We are where we are because people have challenged us, that’s really powerful. But it’s how you challenge [that’s important] and I think sweeping statements at funerals through megaphones is not constructive,” he said.
“What’s hugely constructive is the fact that we are meeting. We will have a sensible robust conversation but we need to learn from each other.”
Speaking to delegates at a Public Relations Institute of Ireland breakfast briefing in Dublin, Sir Hugh said the next big debate in the peace process was about Sinn Féin’s stance on policing and that the issue was about to reach a critical stage.
“I still think we have a huge way to go with some of the leaders of the Republican movement and the police service,” he said.
“But we have been talking to representatives of Sinn Féin for years. The first public meeting that I had with Gerry Adams was important, it was symbolically important, but the reality is for many years police officers from my organisation and the RUC were talking to Sinn Fein behind the scenes to try and move this world on.”
He added: “I will talk to anyone, regardless of their background, if they want to make a difference to policing and we have had some very strange meetings in some very strange places.”
The PSNI chief constable and Mr Adams are to meet next Friday, April 18th.
"I want to tell my story about policing and I want to listen to what his concerns are,” said Sir Hugh. "Success is if we work together and iron out those issues.“
PA