Trimble critical over Patten implementation
David Trimble told the British and Irish Governments that the full implementation of the Patten Report on police reform was not acceptable to Unionists.
The Ulster Unionist Party leader claimed the report, which the nationalist SDLP and Sinn Fein are demanding to be fully implemented instead of the Government’s current legislation on police reform, conflicted with the Good Friday Agreement.
He warned: ‘‘In recent meetings, we have made it clear that this community, this Party cannot take on any more water on this issue.
‘‘Indeed, if anything, movement should be the other way.
‘‘We hear calls for the full implementation of Patten. Tony Blair should remember that his commitment should be to the Agreement.
‘‘The objective he set is the full implementation of the Agreement by June 2001.
‘‘There are parts of Patten, particularly on symbolic issues, where Patten is in conflict with the Agreement.
‘‘So let us have Patten reformed to comply with the Agreement.
"Above all let us have an effective and efficient police force. And let nationalists remember that supporting such a police force is their duty.’’
