The SDLP today called for the speedy implementation of plans to reform the North's criminal justice system at a meeting with senior legal officials.
A delegation from the SDLP led by Mr Mark Durkan was making the call at a meeting with the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions in Belfast.
North Belfast Assembly member Mr Alban Maginness said his party wanted to see the full and quick implementation of the criminal justice review which proposes that the Director of Public Prosecutions should be independent from the Attorney General's office.
He told reporters: "The role of the DPP in the criminal justice reforms is very important.
"We believe there is a need to create a genuine independent prosecution service in the North of Ireland and will be pressing for this and other criminal justice reforms to be speedily implemented.
"We will be raising other issues in relation to how the DPP will operate.
"For example we believe the reasons for non-prosecution should be given."Mr Maginness, who was also being joined at the meeting by the party's policing spokesman Mr Alex Attwood, said they were anxious that the criminal justice reforms were put in place speedily by the British government.
"We think progress can be made on all the issues and that the (British) government needs to be more pro-active and less complacent in relation to the implementation of these matters," he said.
PA