The British government today put pressure on Northern Ireland First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley to agree to the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Executive.
London and Dublin want devolution in place by May, but the Democratic Unionist Party are resisting.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward, speaking in Belfast, urged a change of heart.
He said he hoped that sooner rather than later "local politicians will take up the opportunity to show real leadership and embrace the final part of devolution and get on with actually running policing and criminal justice for themselves."
Responding to a call for action by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Dr Paisley last week told the Stormont Assembly that he had "absolutely no intention" of bringing such a proposal to the Assembly as the necessary conditions did not exist.
The DUP says there is insufficient community confidence in Sinn Féin's commitment to the rule of law for the transfer of the powers to take place.
PA