Reacting to the launch of the Communities and Policing in Transition Programme (CAPT) by Junior Minister and convicted terrorist Gerry Kelly TUV leader Jim Allister said:

“The launch of a cross-border project which will develop joint action plans and strategies agreed between communities and the police according to a press release issued by the Office of the Joint First Ministers chimes exactly with Sinn Fein/IRA’s declared policy of evolving a 32 county policing and justice system. In their 2005 manifesto the party stated:

“Our strategy is for a new all-Ireland policing and justice system. That cannot be achieved without the transfer of policing and justice powers away from London, into an Executive and Assembly and the all-Ireland institutions.”

“It is significant in the extreme that that this move was announced by OFMdFM. If the Office of the Joint First Ministers can issue statements like this pre-devolution, how much more will McGuinness and Kelly be able to set the policing and justice agenda once powers are transferred to Stormont?

“Let’s just remember who Gerry Kelly is. A convicted bomber who, just a few months ago, laughed as he recalled how a prison officer was shot at point blank range in the head. Yet now he is announcing a policing programme! So much for DUP assurances that Sinn Fein/IRA wouldn’t get anywhere near these decisions!

“Where was the DUP veto? Are they are happy to be involved in the evolutionary process towards all-Ireland policing arrangements.
“And I do not believe I am the only Unionist who finds the thought of Republican communities in places like Londonderry and West Belfast far from a healthy prospect”.

Note to editors: The OFMdFM press release is online here.