Adams urges Britain to adopt Northern Irish police reform

BELFAST, July 30 (Reuters) -- Gerry Adams, head of the IRA's political ally Sinn Fein, on Sunday urged Britain to push ahead with key Northern Irish policing reforms, warning hesitation would only encourage dissident guerrillas opposed to peace.

Speaking ahead of talks between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern on the thorny policing issue in London on Monday, Adams said the province's peace pact would be "corroded" if they held back.

"How do we ensure that the peace process continues despite them? (republican dissident groups)," Adams told reporters in Belfast. "By not faltering, by not hesitating, by not giving them succor anywhere."

Monday's talks between Blair and Ahern are widely seen as an attempt to ease tensions between the province's Protestant majority and Roman Catholic minority over policing reforms and get Northern Ireland's peace process back on track.

British security sources fear dissident republican guerrillas said to have been behind recent London security alerts are planning a campaign of violence

Adams said Britain should fully implement proposed policing reforms drawn up by former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten under the landmark Good Friday agreement.

Sinn Fein says legislation before Britain's parliament falls far short of Patten's proposals, and has warned it will not recommend that young Catholics join the province's revamped police force if it is pushed through.

Adams said it was up to the British government to show the dissident republican guerrillas that there was another way forward.

"You don't prove this...by reneging on recommendations by Patten, or reneging or not honoring on commitments to demilitarize."

An uneasy peace reigns in the province after a power-sharing home rule government of Protestant Unionists who support continued links with Britain and Irish nationalists who support unity with the Irish republic was reformed in June.

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