The Police Service of Northern Ireland is ready for the devolution of policing and justice powers, a Stormont committee of Assembly members was told yesterday.
Chief constable Sir Hugh Orde and his deputy, Paul Leighton, told the committee charged with examining proposals to transfer the powers to the Executive, that the police service viewed the move positively.
Questioned by the committee on issues of public confidence and on the timing of such a move, Sir Hugh said: "In my personal judgment, I am not sure I see it in May but I think people will start asking questions if it hasn't happened by autumn." He added: "People see devolution as the next important step in terms of Stormont taking control of its own destiny."
In his opening statement to members, Sir Hugh said there was no reason why devolution of justice powers should not be transferred to local hands. Assuming that no such transfer had a negative impact on his "operational capacity" as chief constable, he supported it fully.
However, he cautioned that devolution ought not damage relations between the PSNI and the policing board, which holds the police to account, nor affect officer exchange protocols with other police services in the UK.
He said policing had always been "the critical issue" during the Troubles and the peace process and he urged committee members to ensure any new policing arrangements did not lead to duplication of functions in policing and the administration of justice.
He urged Assembly members not to let gun attacks on off-duty police officers by dissident republicans last November block the creation of a local justice ministry.
"What they [ dissidents] are trying to achieve is to prevent things happening that normal ordinary people, the overwhelming majority in Northern Ireland, want to happen," Sir Hugh said.
Devolution of justice is emerging as one of the key political questions for the coming year.
The transfer of powers is scheduled for May and Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward has said he is keen to see this. However, the DUP and the Ulster Unionists are cautious.
First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley said the issue was one for the people of Northern Ireland and the Assembly rather than the British government.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey argued against the devolution of justice in May, claiming it was more important for the Executive to progress on other issues which would foster public confidence.
The transfer of justice powers, Sir Reg said, would be "destabilising".