Adams police statement welcomed

Sir Hugh Orde and Gerry Adams are meeting next week

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has said Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has accepted there is only one legitimate police force in Northern Ireland.

Earlier this week, Mr Adams said the IRA would not return to "dealing with criminality" in nationalist areas.

"It's a very powerful statement from Gerry Adams," Sir Hugh said.

"Those sort of statements contribute to the new world because it's de facto saying there is only one police service in Northern Ireland - and it's mine."

Next week Sir Hugh will meet Mr Adams, with crime in west Belfast among the issues to be discussed.

Sir Hugh added: "I still think we have a huge way to go with some of the leaders of the republican movement and the police service.

"But we have been talking to representatives of Sinn Fein for years.

"The first public meeting that I had with Gerry Adams was important, it was symbolically important, but the reality is for many years police officers from my organisation and the RUC were talking to Sinn Fein behind the scenes to try and move this world on."

He was speaking to delegates at a Public Relations Institute of Ireland breakfast briefing in Dublin.

On Tuesday, Mr Adams said after recent murders in west Belfast "I heard some people say that they want the IRA back to deal with anti-social behaviour and criminality.

"Well, let's get real. That's not going to happen.".