Assets wife 'should step down'

The wife of a republican who had assets frozen must clear her name to continue serving on her local District Policing Partnership (DPP), the DUP has claimed.

Annette Hughes was named in a court order granted against her husband Sean, freezing several properties, proceeds of property deals and bank accounts.

She was named in the order as being the co-owner of the properties.

Sinn Fein have rejected the criticism saying they will "take no lectures from unionist politicians."

The DUP chair of the DPP, Williams Burns, said it would be wrong for Mrs Hughes to continue under the present circumstances.

He said he believed SOCA were acting on reliable information.

"They wouldn't have gone down this road unless acting with some clear knowledge so I expect the Policing Board to take action quite soon," he added.

'Securocrats'

However, Sinn Fein Councillor and DPP member Packie McDonald said Mrs Hughes "had bravely stepped forward from within the republican community to engage in the new policing structures."

He added: "We have a mandate and we have an obligation to hold the PSNI to account. We will not be deterred in this by faceless securocrats, political raids by SOCA or demands from within unionism."

Short of bankruptcy or committing a criminal offence, it is a complex process for the Policing Board to expel anyone from a DPP.

The board must establish that "a member's behaviour or actions, will lead to a loss of confidence on the part of the public in the DPP member's ability to carry out the role."

"Difficult for Annette"

Ulster Unionist MLA for Newry and Mourne Danny Kennedy said he believed Mrs Hughes should stand down before action is taken against her.

"I think it is very difficult for Annette and she should consider her position," he said.

"If and when charges are laid, then her position really would be untenable."

District Policing Partnerships were set up following a recommendation of the Patton report.

Elected councillors sit alongside independent members of the public on the bodies with the responsibility to scrutinise local policing.

Mrs Hughes, who is a member of Sinn Fein, is one of a number of people who serve as independent members while also retaining membership of a political party.

SOCA has claimed the assets frozen on Tuesday came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud.

Aside from the properties frozen, it has also searched a number of properties in the south Armagh area.

The BBC was unable to contact Annette Hughes.