Six out of 10 people in Northern Ireland, including a majority of DUP supporters, favour the proposed devolution of responsibility for policing and justice to the Northern Executive, according to a new British government survey.
The survey, which was commissioned by Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward, found that 60 per cent of DUP supporters were content that the devolution of justice and policing should happen by the St Andrews target date of May.
The survey of 1,422 people carried out by Millward Brown Ulster in January found that 55 per cent of DUP supporters thought devolving justice by May was "about right" while 5 per cent thought it should happen sooner. It found that 27 per cent of DUP supporters thought May was too soon for this devolution while 13 per cent of DUP people did not know whether it should happen by May.
Such findings are at variance with comments from DUP politicians who insist that the time is not yet ready to devolve justice powers because, they say, the majority of unionists oppose such a move now, and because the IRA must further dismantle its structures.
Mr Woodward, however, said the poll illustrated that the public opinion on the ground did not tally with the DUP's political view.
"Those who have been saying there is no support for the transfer of powers - I am not sure what they are basing that on," he said.
"While an opinion poll is not a science, I think what this does show is that when the parties reach agreement as to when they want to devolve policing and justice they will be supported by an overwhelming majority of the public," added Mr Woodward.
"It remains for the parties to make that decision and provide the leadership for that to happen.
"We are not going to force it to happen but we are certainly going to encourage it.
"I see no reason why by May we should not be able to complete the process of devolution," he added.
Devolution of justice is a key issue for Sinn Féin although the DUP insisted that it did not sign up to the May date in the St Andrews Agreement.
Mr Woodward said that St Andrews was part of a package that was to broadly appeal to the unionist and nationalist parties. "The parties did not sign up to half a package."
He suggested that if the DUP rejected the devolution it would play into the hands of dissident republicans.
While dissidents were not in a position to damage seriously the political process, a block on devolving justice would "unsettle" people and give the dissidents "space" in which to operate.
"That is their objective - why give them that space to operate?" said Mr Woodward.
DUP MLA Peter Weir said the May target date was not realistic because regardless of the poll the DUP was certain there was not sufficient public confidence for this devolution.
Sinn Féin justice spokesman Alex Maskey said the poll illustrated there was clear support for the transfer of policing and justice and undermined the "myth that community confidence was not present for such a move".
Next month a special Assembly committee chaired by DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson is due to issue its proposals on the creation of a department of justice in the Northern Executive, and appointing a minister, or a minister and junior minister in the department.
There are no signs so far that this can be achieved through unionist/nationalist consensus.
