A STRONG international dimension is needed to the policing of parades in Northern Ireland, the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community (LOCC) group has said.
The North Review of Parades and Marches, chaired by Dr Peter North, is due to publish its independent review of marches on Thursday. There is speculation that it is to recommend that an independent commission be set up to adjudicate on controversial parades.
An LOCC spokesman said: "If the parades tribunal is to have a chance of success, then there needs to be a police service which is capable of impartially implementing the decisions of the tribunal, and the RUC is clearly incapable of filling this role.
"We have urged the North body to recommend a strong international dimension to the policing of parades until such time as the RUC can be replaced by a representative and impartial police service."
Unionists have reacted angrily to the review's reported recommendations but the LOCC spokesman said that their criticisms should not be allowed to halt progress.