The British government will devolve powers over policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly by 2008 even if there is no agreement from unionists, the Ulster Unionist Party leader said today.
Sir Reg Empey said the proposal trampled on the democratic process after learning of the fall-back plan in a letter from Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain.
The note to the Assembly's Policing and Justice Committee warned justice and deputy justice ministers from both sides of the community could be appointed by March 2008.
Sinn Fein has called for powers to be devolved as the party considers whether to accept the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Sir Reg said: "The [British] government has given Sinn Fein an undertaking that there will be devolution of policing and justice powers by 2008 and if there is any nonsense between the parties the [British] government will step in and make the appointments themselves.
"It is a complete negation of the democratic process but my primary point is that the Democratic Unionist Party were saying devolution of policing and justice will not happen in a political lifetime but it is clear from that letter that it will happen."
The route to devolution was agreed by the Irish and British Governments at St Andrews in Scotland this autumn.
A shadow Assembly is in operation and full powers are to be restored by March after Sinn Fein hold their ard fheis, a meeting of all their members to rubber-stamp accepting policing structures.
Assembly elections will be held before a new government is formed headed by Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley and his deputy, Martin McGuinness from Sinn Fein.
Mr Hain's letter said: "If there was no successful selection of ministers within the timeframe set out by St Andrews the Government would take any necessary steps to ensure that the timescale for devolution was not delayed.
"This includes the appointment of a justice minister."
PA