West Tyrone Conservative and Unionist candidate has asked his DUP
rival Tom Buchanan to explain the process of consultation that was
undertaken by the DUP in relation to policing and justice specifically
in West Tyrone.  ’I, for one, was not one of the constituents who was
sent the relevant DUP literature explaining how and why the DUP were
going to move on the devolution of policing and justice. I have
checked with members of my party in West Tyrone and not one was able
to produce the DUP literature.  I have spoken to numerous people who
have visited our office and none of them received the documentation
yet the DUP said they would not move on this issue without the support
of the people.

 I was surprised therefore, when today, I received the DUP literature
in relation to this subject from an irate lady in Castlederg,
Apparently it was delivered by Mr Buchanan himself in what was
described as a ’leaflet drop’ as opposed to a canvassing exercise.

I think at this stage I had better remind Mr Buchanan the deal is done
- I mean they are voting in a Justice Minister this week at the
Assembly.  Are consultations not supposed to take place before a
decision is reached?

I have criticised various Government Departments for ignoring the
submissions made by community groups and others when reaching their
decisions but at least they wait until the consultation process is
complete before coming to a decision - the same cannot be said for the
DUP.

The literature indicates the contempt in which the DUP holds the UUP -
this is no surprise to me.  What is rather confusing however is the
constant DUP turns on the issue. First Peter Robinson said he would
not move on the devolution of policing and justice without the support
of the UUP (this is something he then ignored).  He then said he would
not move on the devolution of policing and justice if he did not have
community confidence.  Well how was he going to gauge that confidence
if the consultation took place after agreement was reached with his
Sinn Fein colleagues?

All this goes to show that the DUP are prepared to lie to the public
in order to sell their deal on policing and justice. So much for, ’a
political lifetime’. So much for, ’not in this Assembly’.

The failure to consult, the distribution of these documents so far
after the event, and the holding of public meetings that were not open
to members of the public is an indication of how far backwards the DUP
were willing to bend to slip policing and justice through the
political system.

The reality is that policing and justice is now devolved. Let’s hope
that this issue is not allowed to resort chaos around the Executive
table as has happened with education.