Unionists to meet Orde over DPP

Unionists are angry at police handling of recent violence

Seven unionist politicians who have withdrawn from Belfast District Policing Partnership are holding talks with Chief Constable Hugh Orde.

The unionists withdrew from the partnership last week in protest at the police handling of recent violence in loyalist areas of the city.

They said the partnership had collapsed since trouble broke out after the Whiterock Orange parade on 10 March.

The group said police had failed to engage with the unionist community.

The city councillors and members of the DPP who put their names to the unionist statement announcing their withdrawal were Robin Newton, Elaine McMillan and Ruth Patterson, DUP; Ulster Unionists David Brown and Jim Rodgers; Independent Unionist Frank McCoubrey and Hugh Smyth, Progressive Unionist Party.

Several days of rioting erupted in the city after the Orange Order was prevented from marching down a nationalist section of the Springfield Road.

Police were attacked with petrol bombs, blast bombs and other missiles during the violence. Several vehicles were also hijacked and set on fire.

Over 60 people have been arrested by police in connection with the disturbances.

Last week, loyalists blockaded roads in Belfast causing severe traffic disruption during rush hour.

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.

The 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.