The transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont is essential to securing republican involvement in policing in Northern Ireland, a senior Sinn Féin figure said today.
Policing spokesman Mr Gerry Kelly told the party's Ard Fheis in Dublin there was still much work to be done before republicans could get involved, with a third act of Parliament required in Westminster to transfer power.
But he also admitted republicans feared getting policing "horribly wrong" once it had been achieved.
The North Belfast Assembly member said: "Critical to the new beginning of policing and justice is the issue of the transfer of powers to Ireland through the local Assembly, the executive and hence into an all-Ireland context through the all-Ireland institutions.
"But transfer of powers is also crucial because it is the only way that control of policing and justice can ultimately be wrested out of the hands of British securocrats in London and the NIO (Northern Ireland Office) who have run policing as a paramilitary force for generations.
"The transfer of powers will require the enactment of a third Parliamentary act by the British Government, surrendering power on policing and justice matters which are currently controlled
by the NIO and by London.
"Without transfer, policing and justice will remain unaccountable and a tool of repression."