The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Ronnie Flanagan, has admitted some of his officers are opposed to the early release of paramilitary prisoners.

Ronnie Flanagan tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Police officers are only human"

Under the peace blueprint agreed at Stormont, prisoners convicted of bombings or other paramilitary offences in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic could be freed within two years - providing groups maintain a ceasefire.

Mr Flanagan said some of his officers were bound to question why such prisoners should be freed.

"Police officers are human beings and experience feelings like everyone else," he said.

"But from day one of a police officer's training they are taught it is their job to bring people into the criminal justice system.

'Decommissioning is political issue'

"What happens to such people thereafter is a matter for other elements of that system.

"I think people shouldn't read this agreement in a partial way, shouldn't pick out single instances of it, but should read it in its totality."

Mr Flanagan also said holders of illegal weapons would continue to be pursued by police, despite the Stormont deal for decommissioning weapons. The settlement document gives no timetable on this issue but says the Independent Commission "will monitor, review and verify progress and will report to both governments".

The Chief Constable said: "It is my job to derive intelligence as to where those weapons might be held and to bring to justice anyone who is holding them unlawfully.

"I will continue to do all that we can. Decommissioning remains firmly in the political arena and must be dealt with on a political basis.

"In the meantime, anyone who is holding weapons unlawfully should expect, quite properly, the rigour of the law."

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