14 October 2000

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Policing Board moves - Grossly Premature

Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Policing Gerry Kelly MLA has described the appearance of advertisements seeking people to join the new Policing Board as 'grossly premature'.

Mr Kelly said:

`` The appearance of these advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph seeking independent members for the policing is to say the least premature. Sinn Fein could not possibly suggest that people should apply for these positions. We do not yet know whether we are to see a policing service or a continuation of the failures of the past in this field.

``Up to this point the British Government have not bridged the gap, in fact they have not even reached the base line of Patten. We cannot and will not be part of encouraging a perpetuation of the sectarian policing of the past.

`` It is interesting to note that the advertisements were not placed in the nationalist press and many will perceive this as a worrying indicator of future intentions.''

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