What is your opinion of the effectiveness of the Police Service of Northern Ireland?

I think it's probably as effective as any other force in western or central europe.

The RUC was a product of the times and could never be regarded as unbias and only effect from a certain standing, i.e. those who believed morality had to be thrown out the window if order was to be kept. That is not to say that there were not some very decent members of the RUC, there certainly were however when there is no accountability there is no come back for the public.

I think the PSNI is effective because it has and is making strides to modernise and change with the times.

The position of the police ombusman has insured that were wrongs were and have been committed justice is done.

And the implementation of the Patten report (were 50% of all recruits must come from a Catholic background and 50% from a non Catholic background regardless who applies) was a necessary discrimination to make sure the PSNI becomes a force which represents the whole community. If it was left to natural selection proper representation would have taken a Century.

I had family raised in Oklahoma who in the 50s would rather have a black sit at their table then an Indian. Part of my family was Indian. With bias inbred into families it will be hard for any nation to produce a force free of hatred but we will work for the future.

It's doing its best and Hugh Orde seems like a fair enough man. You can't change everything overnight but so far so good.

About as usefull as T!Ts on a Bull.

OR as usefull as an ashtray on a motorbike.