THE chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Authority, Mr David Cook, and a leading member, Mr Chris Ryder, have been sacked by Sir Patrick Mayhew.
The Northern Secretary said he regretted the decision but argued that the authority, which acts as an independent watchdog body for the RUC, could not function properly while either remained on it.
Both men said they were very disappointed by his decision, announced yesterday. They said they remained committed to open, accountable policing in the North.
Mr Ryder said he believed their dismissal played into the hands of critics who claimed the RUC was not reformable and should be disbanded.
Sir Patrick last night appointed the authority's former vice chairman, Mr Pat Armstrong, as chairman.
Mr Cook and Mr Ryder said they were standing by their policies of supporting "intelligent, evolutionary changes" to make the RUC more accountable.
The authority voted no confidence in them a fortnight ago but they had steadfastly refused to resign. They met Sir Patrick at Stormont Castle yesterday and he asked them to resign. When they again refused, he dismissed them.
In a statement the Northern Secretary said: "These decisions have been reached with regret following the resolutions of no confidence on 21 February and after very careful consideration of all the issues involved. I have a statutory duty to appoint and maintain a police authority.
"It was clear that the authority could not function effectively and efficiently under Mr Cook's continued chairmanship nor with Mr Ryder as a member."
Mr Cook said he would continue to contribute to the policing debate and he hoped the authority would become less "hesitant and reluctant" in promoting intelligent changes to policing.
Mr Ryder criticised Sir Patrick's decision. "I believe it is sending the wrong message to the community," he said. "He seems to be backing those who are intransigently opposed to the pragmatic positions we supported.
"He threatens the standing of the concepts of reconciliation and accommodation which are essential not only to reaching a political settlement but to accommodation on policing.
The SDLP councillor, Mr Alex Attwood, said the authority's days were numbered. He described the sackings as the result of a dispute between two factions, neither of which wanted significant changes in policing.
"One faction wants minimum change; the other begrudges any change," he said. "One faction wants a minimum transparency; the other wants to maintain the old culture of secrecy. Both will serve the policing debate because neither deal with the real policing problems in the streets of the North."
Sinn Fein said the sackings were "clear evidence of a change mentality of the British government and the police authority". The party's justice spokesman, Mr Barry McElduff, said it was an extremely "negative" action, especially when neither man was advocating "the fundamental changes to policing which Sinn Fein believes are essential".
Nationalists would interpret the decision as "one more victory for unionist intransigence", he said.
Mr Armstrong said he would ensure it was "business as usual" for the authority, and pledged to achieve consensus. "We will continue our work in a spirit of openness and give full account to the community for the discharge of our responsibilities," he added.
Mr Armstrong said he hoped to publish as soon as possible the authority's long awaited community consultation report, which has caused many of its problems.