Brown 'Optimistic' Over North's Policing

The British Prime Minister has refused to impose a deadline for the devolution of policing and justice powers to the North's Assembly.

Meeting with Irish counterpart Brian Cowen in London yesterday, Gordon Brown said he remains confident the current deadlock at Stormont can be broken.

The province's two largest political parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, are currently at loggerheads over the transfer of judiciary responsibilities.

Sinn Féin has called for the installation of a local justice department as soon as possible.

The DUP continues to insist the institution cannot be set-up until there is adequate support within the Unionist community.

Yesterday, Mr Brown lauded the efforts of the opposing parties, stressing the huge progress that has been made.

He referred to the agreed financial package, reportedly in the region of £1bn.

"In all the issues we are making progress, and we have got the financial agreement which is actually the basis for the devolution of policing and justice, and the other issues that remain, I believe we can find solutions to them," said the PM.

"We are realistic about the challenges, but optimistic about the final outcome," he added.

The Irish Taoiseach said his government, along with the British administration, the Independent Monitoring Commission and the PSNI Chief Constable were all on-board.

"In the current economic climate, a stable working Executive is best placed to look after the needs and requirements of all the people of Northern Ireland," said Mr Cowen.

He added: "The devolution of policing and justice is necessary to consolidate the functioning of the devolved institutions and to complete the transformation of policing in Northern Ireland."

The meeting of the Irish and British premiers came amid a warning from the DUP MP and former Executive Minister Gregory Campbell that devolution could take "years".

He shot down calls by the Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for a time frame to be set before Christmas.

"It will take years, for not only my colleagues and myself, but for many in the unionist community to see Sinn Fein continuing to work the Northern Ireland Assembly and not using it as some sort of battering ram, because that's where we are now," Mr Campbell said.

(PR/GK)