It is unfortunate that the British minister responsible for policing in the North should have marred the launch of the White Paper on the RUC yesterday with his insensitive remarks about matters of symbolism. Sir John Wheeler may well feel that the hat badge used by the force or the name under which it functions are of "marginal interest, largely irrelevant", but he has been long enough in Northern Ireland to know that they are extremely relevant to the whole question of identity and cultural respect in the eyes of a large section of the community.
There is nothing contradictory in insisting that these questions must be addressed seriously and at the same time looking for quality of service: indeed, his implied suggestion that there is, can be turned on its head by asking why, if they are unimportant, there is so much resistance to change? He knows the answer as well as anyone, and his summary dismissal of the demand for new symbols for a (hopefully) new political era therefore runs counter to the overt intention of the White Paper - securing minority support for the police. Retaining majority support and sustaining morale in the force are necessary too, but these objectives depend to a considerable extent on the stability that would follow from cross community acceptance allowing the rule of law to operate freely in all parts of the North. Willy nilly, the issues are at present politicised on both sides.
It is unlikely that yesterday's document will make much impact on the debate about policing for other reasons than Sir John Wheeler's maladroitness. This is a pity because it contains some useful proposals. Control by the Chief Constable of the annual budget would introduce a much more direct element into operational decision making than exists now: it is a reform that would make sense in the Republic as well where control of money matters relating to the Garda is in the hands of the Department of Justice, not the Commissioner, with no very obvious advantage since it means an unnecessary and inefficient layer of bureaucracy. The theoretical objection that this, in Northern conditions, would increase the Chief Constable's autonomy to an unacceptable extent is answered in the White Paper by making him more accountable to the Police Authority.
Recent events have shown however, that this may provide an illusory counterbalance. The dismissal of the chairman, Mr David Cook, and a member of the authority, Mr Chris Ryder, for displaying independence of mind has not helped to encourage belief in the genuineness of control by that body or the possibility of giving it the dynamism that it needs to have in the debate about reform of police structures. In the final analysis, nothing will be accomplished unless the Police Authority has demonstrable influence and is willing to use it impartially. Any proposal relating to it will be judged by this yardstick.
With the White Paper, the report already published by the Police Authority, and the internal review of the RUC which is expected in the next few months, there is no shortage of suggestions. So far, however, the political consensus which is vital for any lasting settlement shows no sign of developing. Reaching it will be one of the central challenges facing the politicians when the all party talks begin.