Rising crime and sectarian street violence could wreck police reforms in Northern Ireland, it was claimed today.
In his fifth report since being appointed Oversight Commissioner for the Patten blueprint to overhaul the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Mr Tom Constantine said: "Group violence directed at police officers as these try to preserve peace, can threaten the entire concept of police reform".
"This environment of crime and violence creates a foundation for the growing threat of organised crime in Northern Ireland".
Mr Constantine accepted significant change had been achieved. But his 120-page document expressed concern in several key areas where the new Police Service of Northern Ireland still falls short.
These include delays in producing a plan for fully integrating the Special Branch with the Criminal Investigation Department and staff shortages hampering police commanders' ability to do their job properly.
He also noted there had been a failure to recruit civilians that could free up officers to go on patrol, soaring sickness levels and no plan for sorting out the issue of reserve officers' futures, both full-time and part-time.
There has also been little progress towards setting up a new police training college.
Although he was appointed for a three-year period in May 2000, the commissioner has admitted it could take up to 10 years for all the Patten recommendations to be achieved.
PA