Representatives of police officers in Northern Ireland have said laws which would allow rogue members of the security services and paramilitaries to avoid arrest for offences committed before 1998 are unacceptable.
In a letter to Northern Ireland Security Minister Shaun Woodward, the Police Federation's secretary, Terry Spence, said his members were opposed to any moves to allow ‘on-the-runs’ to return without fear of incarceration.
This follows yesterday's announcement that the Government is to establish a new Eligibility Body to look at the cases of people wanted for paramilitary offences committed before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
The body will decide if they should be recommended for a pardon.
Under the new bill, ‘on-the-run’ paramilitary suspects, as well as civilians, police and soldiers suspected of crimes before 1998, will have to apply to a certification commissioner to qualify for the scheme.
