Police recruitment a 'failed policy' says Cobain

UUP Policing Board member Fred Cobain has told the Government that 50-50 police recruitment is a failed policy of discrimination.

The north Belfast councillor also said the policy was doing untold damage to Protestant confidence in the peace process.

Mr Cobain made his statement just as Security Minister Jane Kennedy said a review into the effectiveness of the policy is set to take place.

However, his comments were condemned by SDLP policing spokesperson, Alex Attwood, who called on unionists to "back off" on the 50:50 issue.

"The reality is that the 50:50 quota is vital to bring about, not only a representative service, but also an impartial one," he said.

"Equal recruitment will bring about the equal police service to which nationalists and unionists have an equal right. Indeed it is striking that the unionist politicians who attack the quota on equality grounds never once attacked the old RUC for failing to police Northern Ireland equally."

Unionist politicians would have to face the truth that the old RUC was not impartial, he added.

The temporary provisions of the Police (NI) Act 2000 are due to expire in March, 2004.

(MB)