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POWER OVER POLICING AND JUSTICE IS THE HALLMARK OF REAL
DEVOLUTION SDLP Justice
Spokesperson Alban Maginness MLA I believe that we should approach the Devolution of Justice and Policing as a great opportunity to shape and form our security and justice systems in accordance with local needs and aspirations. We will have two challenging and competing aims, firstly the continuation of the reforms that the Criminal Justice Review has mapped out and secondly, the effective and efficient management of the system. But these I believe can be reconciled. One of the ironies over the devolution of policing and justice powers is that it was the very removal of these same powers by the Heath Government that caused the Unionist Prime Minister and his government to resign in protest in March 1972 and of course lead to the prorogation of the Stormont Parliament. I have never understood the negative reaction by contemporary Unionist representatives and their parties to the return of such powers. One would have thought, given the history, that unionists would be delighted at the return of such powers. I am not sure what they fear, as whatever arrangements are put in place, the powers will be and should be a shared responsibility. While those arrangements await to be fully determined, I am reasonably convinced that the return of powers will take place in the near future, as planned, given the entente cordiale between the DUP and Sinn Fein. Devolution without Justice and Policing powers is a second division form of devolution. Power over policing and justice is the hallmark of real devolution and without it we are little more than a grand County Council. Now that we are moving into grown up adult politics, it is only right that we should be regarded as mature enough to look after our own security and legal system. ENDS
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