DUP: Police plan is deal-breaker

The full time reserve is to be phased out in 2011

The DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has said he does not believe policing and justice will be devolved if the full time police reserve is phased out.

Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Matt Baggott said on Friday he would wind up the reserve within months.

Mr Donaldson said there would not be the necessary unionist confidence for devolving justice powers if that happened.

Sinn Fein have said devolution should happen without further preconditions.

On Monday Mr Donaldson said it was "absolutely clear" that the DUP would not agree to devolution if the reserve is disbanded.

However, Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said the disbandment of the reserve is an operational matter for the Chief Constable which should not be politicised.

Reforms

The reserve is a auxiliary group of Northern Ireland police officers who support the regular force in mainly security-related policing work. It is integrated into the regular force.

It was set up in 1970 in response to the growing threat from paramilitaries. At its strongest it had about 3,500 officers, but now has only about 440.

It is to be phased out by March 2011, a move which was one of the recommendations of the Patten report which led to major reforms on policing in Northern Ireland.

The DUP had listed retaining the reserve as a confidence building measure necessary for the devolution of policing and justice.

In recent days, there have been increasingly bitter exchanges between the DUP and Sinn Fein over the devolution issue.

Sinn Fein have accused the DUP of raising unnecessary obstructions, while the DUP have replied that they will not be blackmailed.