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Tuesday, December 22, 1998 Published at 11:56 GMT

RUC could face 'new beginning'

Chris Patten: Looking into the future of Northern Ireland's police

Policing in Northern Ireland could face a "new beginning" once the Independent Commission investigating the future of the Royal Ulster Constabulary reports next summer.

Chris Patten speaking on the Today programme
The commission's head, Chris Patten, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Our terms of reference are extensive and suggest that we should propose a new beginning for policing in Northern Ireland."

He said the commission was looking into "almost facet of policing from recruitment and training to structure and organisation".

Community support

The former Conservative Northern Ireland minister and Hong Kong governor added that it was vital to "ensure that Northern Ireland has effective policing with the overwhelming support of the whole community".

The review of the mainly Protestant RUC is one of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and Mr Patten said it is crucial that the report is finished as soon as possible.

"I don't want to hang around indefinitely, and neither do the RUC," he said.

The commission's review is taking wide consultation from both sides of the sectarian divide with political parties, trade unions and members of the public all contributing their evidence.

Mr Patten said that so far he has attended 35 public meetings, where he had met over 9,000 people.

He added: "It is literally unique to have this sort of consultation and it is a demonstration of how far Northern Ireland has moved, that you can have this debate about an issue of tremendous importance and have it openly try and resolve issues through dialogue and not bombs and bullets."