Northern Ireland will have a new police service by September regardless of what happens in the peace process, Northern Secretary Dr John Reid vowed today.
With nationalists still withholding support for police reforms, Dr Reid told pupils at a Catholic grammar school in Ballymena, Co Antrim, he was determined to deliver the new service "come what may".
He told St Louis's Grammar School pupils: "I hope that will happen with the active support of all sides of the community but this September, there will be a new police service for Northern Ireland - whatever else happens elsewhere in this process.
"That is why we have begun 50/50 recruitment because we want to start working towards a police service which is, in the words of the advertisement a 'true reflection of the whole comunity'.
"And that is not a process which will end this September. Quite the reverse.
"Five hundred more officers will be recruited on a 50/50 basis next year, and the year after that and so on until we reach the point where the service is that true reflection."
Dr Reid was speaking as the North prepared for possible round table talks on Thursday involving the British and Irish governments and the pro-Agreement parties.
PA