Security cameras for DPP homes

Army bomb experts examined a suspicious device in Sion Mills

Security cameras are to be placed on the homes of district policing partnership members in County Tyrone, the BBC has learned.

The move follows recent attacks on independent and political members of Strabane's policing partnership.

On Monday, a hoax device was found near two DPP members' homes in Sion Mills and an independent member was attacked for the second time in two weeks.

A car belonging to the son of Mary McCrea was set alight in an arson attack in the village.

Last month, a suspect package was left outside the house. It was declared to be a hoax.

However, Mrs McCrea said she would not be intimidated.

Sensitive issues

Three members have already resigned from policing partnerships across the province following a campaign of intimidation by dissident republicans.

Last month, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said the main threat to DPP members was from dissident republicans, but police had intelligence that some mainstream republicans were involved at a lower level.

District policing partnerships were set up across Northern Ireland under reforms initiated by a commission headed by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten and implemented by the government.

District policing partnerships are made up of councillors and members of the local community, who work alongside the Police Service of Northern Ireland's 29 District Command Units in trying to meet local community policing needs.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board handles some of the most sensitive issues facing policing and holds the chief constable and his senior officers to account.

Former assembly members and independent nominees serve on the board whose headquarters are in Belfast.

Sinn Fein has boycotted the new structures, insisting the government's policing reforms need to go further if they are ever going to participate.