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Revision as of 17:47, 15 November 2005
The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It is composed of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and independent members, all of whom are chosen by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Although it is entitled to nominate members, the board is being boycotted by the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin, as all of the recommendations of the Patten Commission have not yet been implemented.
At a recent public meeting in north Belfast, SDLP chairman Alex Attwood estimated that 80% of the recommendations have been implemented. Sinn Féin also maintains that the board has no real control over the police, as it can make recommendations, yet it cannot enforce them. In 2004, the U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland, Mitchell Reiss, accused Sinn Féin of 'posturing' over the issue.
Hardline unionists, particularly members of the Democratic Unionist Party have disputed Sinn Féin's right to appoint members to the Police Authority, given its links with the Provisional IRA. Ulster Unionist Party member Fred Cobain was reported as threatening to resign from the board if moves were made in order to make the board more acceptable to Sinn Féin. Recently, the British government has announced that the DUP will be allowed a greater share of nominees (in line with its increased share of votes), to the chagrin of the other parties on the board.
Members
- Alex Attwood (SDLP)
- Denis Bradley (vice-chair, independent)
- Viscount Brookeborough (UUP independent)
- Joe Byrne (SDLP)
- Fred Cobain (UUP)
- Brian Dougherty (Independent)
- Sam Foster (UUP)
- Barry Gilligan (independent)
- William Hay (DUP)
- Tom Kelly (SDLP independent)
- Lord Kilclooney (UUP)
- Alan McFarland (UUP)
- Pauline McCabe (independent)
- Eddie McGrady (SDLP)
- Rosaleen Moore (independent)
- Ian Paisley, Jr. (DUP)
- Sir Desmond Rea (chair, independent)
- Suneil Sharma (independent)
- Sammy Wilson (DUP)