BRITISH PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has played his part by providing a generous financial settlement for the funding of a devolved policing and justice regime in Northern Ireland. It is now up to DUP leader and First Minister, Peter Robinson, to complete that process and arrange for the formal establishment of a department of justice within the Northern Ireland Executive. Some opposition from unionist hardliners is expected as the last bricks of the peace process are put in place. But further delay would send the wrong signal to a community that has grown tired of political caution.
At a time when the British economy remains mired in recession and unemployment continues to rise, it is vital that hope and stability are provided in Northern Ireland. The normalisation of security arrangements within a powersharing administration will encourage foreign investment and job creation while consolidating the political gains already made. All of that should feed into a gradual improvement in community relations.
Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness appeared well pleased with the terms of the financial arrangement secured during their lengthy negotiations with Mr Brown. In addition to an £800 million package to fund the transfer of policing and justice powers, special financial reserves will be made available in the event of unforeseen circumstances arising. That fail-safe arrangement has been designed to protect budgetary spending on health, education and housing. And Conservative Party leader David Cameron has agreed to honour those commitments in the event of his being elected prime minister.
Considerable progress has been made by General John de Chastelain in encouraging paramilitary organisations to decommission their weapons. The exceptions involve dissident republican groups which continue to engage in bomb attacks and other criminal activities. Early next year, an amnesty period dealing with the destruction of paramilitary weapons will elapse. In that context, a devolved policing system supported on a cross-community basis will be in a better position to cope with endemic crime levels. The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from survey findings indicating that while the Police Service of Northern Ireland attracts broad community support, less than half of all crimes are reported because the public believes it would be pointless. The DUP leader has embarked on a consultation process within his party to assess the willingness of members to accept the transfer of justice and policing powers in these new circumstances. A bitter distrust of Sinn Féin persists within the unionist community. That sentiment could be harnessed by hardliners opposed to Mr Robinson at a future election. Such a concern should be viewed in a broader context.
A major political advance is required to sustain public confidence in the peace process and to promote a culture of tolerance and diversity. The transfer of responsibility for justice and policing to a Northern administration would do that, while offering the prospect of jobs and future prosperity.