Members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board are not an optimistic lot. At its first public meeting yesterday, a list of rules was left on the seats allocated for any ordinary citizens who might wander in.
"No clapping, shouting, singing or hissing," ordered rule eight. "No stamping of feet," said rule nine. Two of the board's own members - the DUP's Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley jnr - are renowned for such activities and have practised them very recently at Stormont.
Not that the plain people of Belfast were rushing in their droves to attend the meeting. Only 29 were present to see the DUP, the SDLP, the UUP, and other members sit down to question the Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
The session at the Waterside Tower on Clarendon Dock was very low key. There wasn't even a republican or a loyalist picket outside. Reporters were carefully searched and rule seven warned "brief-cases and large bags" were not permitted.
Even DUP members were on their best behaviour. Sir Ronnie later noted Ian Paisley jnr's double-breasted pin-stripe suit. "If you're accused of being a gangster, Ian, you might as well dress like one," he quipped. "You have a suit at home like this yourself, Chief Constable," said Ian.
Addressing the Board, Sir Ronnie defended the decision to remove the RUC's name from police headquarters after darkness last week. He had not wanted camera crews to film workers with shovels and spades, ropes and diggers, doing it.