The RUC must not be sacrificed on the "altar of political expediency", the anti-Belfast Agreement Union First group has insisted in a submission to the Patten Commission on Policing.
The group, releasing its paper at a meeting in Belfast last night, urged that the Royal Ulster Constabulary name should remain, and that there be no regionalisation of the police service.
While some nationalists favour a two-tier policing system, Union First noted that the Garda Siochana was the only police service in the Republic. "We support the retention of one unitary police force for Northern Ireland," the group said. However, it favoured a "clear proper channel of co-operation" with the Garda, which could include "joint projects".
It said recruitment and promotion must operate by the merit principle alone, and opposed "positive discrimination" or a quota system to attract more Catholics into the force.
"Special efforts should be made to encourage minorities. Once eligible candidates are in the selection process, then progress towards eventual selection must be on merit only," it said.
