Britain's most senior policeman is at the centre of a deepening row amid claims that he referred to former colleagues in Northern Ireland as members of a paramilitary force.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair (53), was speaking following a conference in Belfast and his alleged criticism of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) has prompted a backlash from unionists.
He told UTV: "You would have to be entirely insensitive not to have noticed that there has been change here.
"I pay tribute to all the people from so many different walks of life...in making the changes from what was, as you say, a paramilitary, almost completely paramilitary organisation, to an emblem of hope."
A Met spokesman said the comments had been taken out of context and that the Commissioner didn't intend to insult the RUC. He is believed to have been referring to the RUC's role in fighting paramilitaries.
However, the Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Peter Robinson said the assertions were a disgrace. "The RUC courageously defended Northern Ireland against a terrorist onslaught for over thirty years and for the head of the Metropolitan Police to come to Northern Ireland and use such terms is highly insulting," he said.
"Over three hundred officers paid the ultimate sacrifice and in no circumstances will we tolerate such offensive language. Sir Ian Blair now needs to completely withdraw his comments and apologise for the deep hurt he has caused."
The senior officer has been Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police since February 2005, five months before two bombings and attempted bombings of London on July 7th. The married father-of-two is in Belfast for an international conference on the future of policing organised by the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the PSNI.
A spokesman for the Met said: "This suggestion is completely false. He was responding to a phrase used by the interviewer and not drawing a comparison between the RUC and a terrorist organisation.
"Sir Ian went out of his way to pay tribute to all of the police officers in Northern Ireland who have worked to move from the militaristic style of policing they were forced to adopt in the face of the significant security threat to one of policing in partnership with the community.
"He stated how proud he was to have worked with these officers for more than 30 years."