Deadlock 'encourages dissidents'

Dawn Purvis addressed the party's annual conference

The deadlock at Stormont is encouraging the rise of dissident republicans and anti-agreement unionists, the Progressive Unionist leader has said.

Dawn Purvis told her party conference that some in the DUP were blocking the devolution of policing just to "get one over on Sinn Fein."

She also said some in Sinn Fein "did not want a Brit about the place".

She said the squabbling was not helping ordinary people who are struggling to pay their bills.

The former assistant chief constable Peter Sheridan addressed the conference on peace building.

He said the future prosperity of areas such as the Shankill depended on nationalists feeling safe to shop there.