The British government's insensitive handling of police reform has caused much original Unionist support for the Belfast Agreement to evaporate, Ulster Unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon has warned.
Speaking in Ballinasloe late last night, Lady Hermon said she was "deeply concerned about the seeping away of support for the Agreement amongst the Unionist community in Northern Ireland."
Despite the fact that the majority of the 175 recommendations in the Patten Report were based on the RUC’s own internal review the Ulster Unionist Party is being blamed for the "destruction" of the RUC, added Lady Hermon.
She went on to say the Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission in Northern Ireland regard discrimination in police recruitment as justified.
"The Chief Constable selects successful candidates on the basis that 50 per cent are or the Catholic faith, while the other 50 per cent are of any other faith or none at all. Such discrimination is deeply divisive and counterproductive", she said.
Lady Hermon also expressed concern at the falling morale in the Northern Ireland Police force which was manifesting itself in a dramatic drop in numbers.
"Right now only 3 years after Patten, we are right down below 7,200 full-time police officers. This is, I believe, a dangerously low level especially since loyalist and dissident republican paramilitaries continue to be so murderous and hell-bent on wrecking the Agreement."
An increase of 25 per cent in so-called paramilitary punishment attacks last year was also a cause for worry, Lady Hermon said.