Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan is to be asked by the British government why UDA members have not been prosecuted over their role in attacks on nationalists in north Belfast.
The SDLP said Ms Jane Kennedy, the North's Security Minister, vowed to raise the issue with the police chief after a delegation of SDLP MLAs and councillors gave her specific examples of UDA involvement in recent disturbances in north Belfast.
SDLP Police Board member Mr Alex Attwood also confirmed the party had requested a meeting with senior police commanders in areas affected by UDA attacks to discuss policing in flashpoint areas and the activities of the loyalist group.
"We pressed Jane Kennedy on why there did not appear to be sufficient vigour in the prosecution of those directing these attacks given the fact that UDA is not on ceasefire and its commanders are well known," the West Belfast MLA said. "She agreed to raise it with the Chief Constable."
Five days after the UDA's North Belfast brigade warned it would not tolerate attacks in the flashpoint Limestone Road area, the delegation, which also included North Belfast MLA Mr Alban Maginness and East Derry MLA Mr John Dallat, pressed for more policing resources on the ground.
They also called for more support in the rehousing of those intimidated from their homes.