Public 'favour' devolving justice to Northern Ireland

More than 70% of people believe local ministers are best placed to take decisions on policing, according to a poll conducted by the NI Executive.

It also suggests that 70% of unionists favour Northern Ireland politicians being in charge of policing issues, compared to 83% of nationalists.

The poll of about 1,000 people was conducted by Red Circle communications.

It asked people who they thought was best placed to make decisions on policing in NI.

Seventy two percent of those polled answered local ministers, while 16% answered direct rule and 11% did not know.

Eighty five percent of those asked said they supported the agreement to transfer policing and justice power to the assembly and of these, 70% were unionist.

The poll cost about £37,000 and was prepared for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

A separate poll commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office indicated 68% of people in Northern Ireland want to see local politicians taking responsibility for policing and justice.

A total of 1,000 people were interviewed for the NIO poll on Friday and Saturday.

A clear majority - 68% - told the pollsters that local ministers should make decisions on policing whilst only 14% wanted the powers to remain with direct rule ministers.

A similar percentage backed the Hillsborough deal negotiated last month.

The Ulster Unionist Party, who have asked for the costs of the NIO poll to be made public, have said they are not in a position to support Tuesday's assembly vote on devolving policing and justice powers from Westminster to the assembly.

The UUP has been refusing to endorse the Hillsborough Agreement, insisting that matters such as education, parading and "the dysfunctional nature of the current executive" must be addressed.

The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough assembly members to ensure the vote has the necessary cross-community support to be passed in the assembly on Tuesday.