The former head of the Patten Commission on changes to policing in Northern Ireland has been seeing for himself some of the changes that have occurred in the last nine years.
Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten also welcomed Sinn Féin's decision to take its three seats on the Policing Board.
Nine years ago Lord Patten headed a commission which recommended widespread changes to the RUC, a largely Protestant force.
The PSNI started with a 50/50 recruitment policy which has seen the number of Catholic members increase from 8% to 23%.
According to Lord Patten, this measure should remain in place for the next three years or so.
The Policing Oversight Commissioner's final report revealed that of the 175 Patten Commission recommendations, 35 remain to be implemented. That includes the proposal for a new police training college.
Lord Patten called on Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, to make financing of the project a priority when he takes over as Prime Minister.
