(P)SF, PSNI meeting "constructive"
SF, PSNI meeting "constructive" Talks between Sinn Fein and the PSNI at Hillsborough Castle focussed on trying to build a better understanding of each other, Sir Hugh Orde has said. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and the chief constable both described their four-hour meeting as "constructive". The talks followed criticism of each other's organisations in recent weeks. "There has been a frank exchange of views and I think that is what is healthy about policing in Northern Ireland," said Sir Hugh. "We are prepared to have those discussions. We are prepared to agree to disagree and to have a conversation to see where the common ground is, and the common ground today was around a greater understanding of policing by Sinn Fein and a greater understanding of what their communities want from us." Mr Adams said while the PSNI still had work to do, there had been positive developments. There have been positive things happening but there is some more work to be done Gerry Adams "One of the things that we spent a lot of time dealing with in there is how the PSNI engage with nationalists and republicans," the West Belfast MP said. "I think we did do some good work there. Again, the PSNI is a police service in transition. "Clearly there has been progress - we would be the first ones to acknowledge that and I have said on many occasions there has been progress. There have been positive things happening but there is some more work to be done." Delegations from the PSNI and Sinn Fein discussed police accountability, crime and anti-social behaviour, legacy issues from the Troubles and how the PSNI could deliver an effective service to the nationalist community. Delegations Among Sinn Fein's team were the Stormont junior minister Gerry Kelly, MEP Bairbre de Brun and Policing Board members Martina Anderson and Alex Maskey. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton and assistant chief constables Duncan McCausland and Peter Sheridan were among the police delegation. Last month, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams expressed concerns that the PSNI may not be up to the job of civic policing following the murder of former republican prisoner Frank McGreevy. Sir Hugh hit back earlier this month at the Policing Board, claiming Sinn Fein criticism of his officers was unfair. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7355064.stm Published: 2008/04/18 14:59:38 GMT © BBC MMVIII

Adams talks with Orde 'constructive'
Last Updated: 18/04/2008 18:52 Adams talks with Orde 'constructive' Talks between Sinn Féin and the Police Service of Northern Ireland focused on trying to build a better understanding of each other, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said today. After emerging from four-hour face-to-face talks at Hillsborough Castle, Sir Hugh and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams described their dialogue as constructive. The talks followed hard-hitting criticism of each other’s organisations in recent weeks. The Chief Constable said: “I am not sure there has been a disagreement...There has been a frank exchange of views and I think that is what is healthy about policing in Northern Ireland. "We are prepared to have those discussions. We are prepared to agree to disagree and to have a conversation to see where the common ground is, and the common ground today was around a greater understanding of policing by Sinn Fein and a greater understanding of what their communities want for us. I think that is a really positive step forward.” Last month Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams expressed concerns that the PSNI may not be up to the job of civic policing following the murder of former republican prisoner Frank McGreevy. Sir Hugh hit back earlier this month at the Policing Board, claiming Sinn Féin criticism of his officers was unfair. However today Mr Adams said while the PSNI still had work to do, there had been positive developments. “One of the things that we spent a lot of time dealing with in there is how the PSNI engage with nationalists and republicans,” the West Belfast MP said. “I think we did do some good work there. Again the PSNI is a police service in transition. Clearly there has been progress - we would be the first ones to acknowledge that and I have said on many occasions there has been progress. There have been positive things happening but there is some more work to be done.” Delegations from the PSNI and Sinn Féin discussed police accountability, crime and anti-social behaviour, legacy issues from the Troubles and how the PSNI could deliver an effective service to the nationalist community. Among Sinn Féin’s team were the Stormont junior minister Gerry Kelly, MEP Bairbre de Brún and Policing Board members Martina Anderson and Alex Maskey. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton and Assistant Chief Constables Duncan McCausland and Peter Sheridan were among the police delegation. PA © 2008 ireland.com

Adams and Orde to discuss west Belfast crime wave
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk Adams and Orde to discuss west Belfast crime wave Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is due to meet PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde today amid ongoing criticism of the failure to tackle crime in west Belfast. Mr Adams has been under pressure in his electoral heartland over what voters say is a republican failure to ensure the police are preventing crime in the area. West Belfast has experienced three murders in recent months, while last weekend, two men died in a stolen car and a woman was raped in a forest park. Mr Adams has accused the PSNI of failing to provide proper policing in the area, but Mr Orde has rejected the criticism as unfair and unjustified. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/politics/article3621059.ece © Belfast Telegraph

here is the 32's take on events 32 County Sovereignty Movement 18/04/2008 RUC/PSNI have no legitimacy. Following today’s meeting between Provisional Sinn Fein and the RUC/PSNI it is essential that Mr Gerry Adams and his party colleagues explain to the republican community how they can state that the RUC/PSNI are the legitimate police force in the six counties? Where does this legitimacy come from given that Britain retains political control over the six counties and MI5 retain political control over all aspects of policing relating to security?. What has changed in the constitutional position of the six counties to allow republicans to give the RUC/PSNI legitimacy. On whose behalf exactly have Provisional Sinn Fein accepted this legitimacy? Will Provisional Sinn Fein provide clarity to both the unionist and nationalist communities in the north by publicly declaring that the RUC/PSNI are the one and only legitimate police force here and by extension will they publicly state the legitimacy of the state of ‘Northern Ireland’? The 32 County Sovereignty Movement and other republicans are not opposed to British policing in the north because of a lack of results from the RUC/PSNI. The 32CSM are opposed to the fact of British policing not just the manner of British policing. For republicans ALL British policing is illegitimate and illegal due to the ongoing occupation of part of the national territory. During the policing debates of Jan 2007 republican separatists were told by PSF party apparatchiks that they would be in there ‘Challenging the political detectives’, what was discussed in today’s meeting that has done this given that the political detectives reside in bunkers in Holywood and do not indulge in propaganda photo calls in Hillsborough? Finally, can Mr Adams give the republican base a definitive moment when republicans bearing arms in defence of national sovereignty ceased to be engaged in a legitimate national liberation struggle and became part of an illegal criminal conspiracy against a legitimate political entity?