THERE WAS renewed criticism yesterday of DUP Policing Board member Ian Paisley jnr's call for the PSNI to operate a shoot-to-kill policy against known dissident republicans.
His comments also brought fresh attention on the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Executive which is keenly sought by nationalist parties and the British and Irish governments, but is being resisted by unionists.
Policing Board chairman Prof Sir Desmond Rea said yesterday he felt there were sufficient checks and balances in the Patten Commission recommendations on policing to promote confidence in the devolution of justice powers.
Referring to the main political parties at Stormont, Sir Desmond said: "The most significant thing is they are adhering, as I understand it, to the principles enshrined in Patten for the devolution of policing and justice."
Adding his voice to those criticising Mr Paisley jnr yesterdaywas SDLP North Antrim Assembly member Declan O'Loan.
He said: "However fast Ian Paisley jnr may back-pedal now, the fact is that his tough-guy talk plays right into their hands.
"The State killings of the past were the Provos' greatest recruiting sergeant and were very clearly a great impediment to effective policing.
"What the dissidents fear above all else is an accountable police service with support in all sections of the community, able to gather intelligence and operate everywhere in our society with public support."
Another North Antrim Assembly member, Daithí McKay of Sinn Féin, said Mr Paisley jnr's remarks represented "a failure of sections of the DUP to come to terms with the new political realities and a failure to learn the lessons of the past".
"The PSNI is not the unionist militia it replaced. The days of paramilitary policing have gone with the RUC and cannot return," he said.
The Ulster Unionists also criticised the DUP member.
Lagan Valley Assembly member Basil McCrea said: "It is crucial that elected representatives do all in their power to support and assist the PSNI. Ian Paisley jnr's comments have failed in this regard - in fact, they run the risk of undermining the PSNI's ability to combat terrorism.
"Rather than cheap tabloid headlines, intelligence-led policing with support from across the community is the key to defeating the terrorist threat."
Mr Paisley jnr made his comments after a weekend attack on PSNI officers in Co Fermanagh. The former Stormont junior minister said: "Sooner or later there will be a murder of a police officer unless the police are able to deploy ruthlessness in tracking down and wiping out these dissident members,".
This prompted a barrage of criticism from SDLP and Sinn Fein members of the Policing Board which oversees the PSNI.