Policing Board had to ensure demographics were reflected

The Belfast District Policing Partnership (DPP) comprises 10 councillors and nine independent members.

DPPs have been established in council areas across Northern Ireland to help provide local policing accountability.

The first meeting was held at Belfast City Hall and was a private session so members could become acquainted.

Sinn Fein has so far refused to participate in the partnerships, but the chairman of the Belfast partnership, councillor Jim Rodgers, said he believed it would still represent the whole community.

The names of more than 200 people appointed to serve on the DPP have been published.

The appointments have followed an extensive public recruitment campaign.

The DPPs have been established under the programme of change to policing in Northern Ireland recommended by Chris Patten, which saw the changeover from the predominantly Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary to the PSNI in November 2001.

Demographics

In the appointment process, the Policing Board was required to ensure the demographics of each council area were reflected in its final appointments.

The 207 independent members - 108 Catholics and 99 non-Catholics - will serve along with elected members drawn from local councils.

The youngest member is 24 while the oldest is 75.

Appointees include George Patton, the chief executive of the Orange Order, and Davy Adams, a former Ulster Democratic Party councillor.

Each local authority is set to have a District Policing Partnership.

The appointment process in Dungannon and South Tyrone has been extended because the initial stage failed to attract a representative cross-section of the community.