Police union 'clinging to the past'

The federation is the police officers' union

The Northern Ireland Police Federation has been accused of clinging to the past following a public meeting with the SDLP.

Speaking after Tuesday's talks with the police officers' union, SDLP party chairman Alex Attwood criticised the way the federation runs its internal affairs.

He said the union needed to be "more supportive" of the Patten reforms on policing.

However, speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday, Police Federation chairman Irwin Montgomery said they were "moving on and making change".

"We fought our case over the retention of the name of the Royal Ulster Constabulary," he said.

"That is behind us and we have moved on.

"I cannot say that everybody is happy that we are called the Police Service of Northern Ireland, indeed there are many I am sure that are not.

"But that does not affect their day to day duty on the ground."

The Patten Commission recommended fundamental changes to policing in Northern Ireland.

Recommendations including a new name, badge, oath of allegiance, uniform and a positive recruitment policy towards Catholics, angered unionists, but failed to meet nationalist and republican demands for disbandment.

The review of policing in Northern Ireland by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten was one of the key elements of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.