In full: PSNI chief's statement

Sir Hugh paid tribute to the colleagues killed in the Troubles

Sir Hugh Orde, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has issued a statement in response to the IRA's announcement that it has formally ordered an end to its armed campaign. Here it is in full:

A police service which works daily, as we do, to create a safer Northern Ireland for everyone has to welcome an announcement by any organisation that they intend to cease all paramilitary and criminal activity.

While the words of the recent IRA statement are clearer than anything we have seen from them previously, we are not alone in our view that the actions which follow that statement will be crucial and I believe that the Independent Monitoring Commission will play an important part in verifying those actions.

This moment in the history of Northern Ireland cannot pass without us pausing to remember the loss of life, injury and pain suffered by our colleagues and pay tribute to the men and women who worked and sacrificed to police Northern Ireland in difficult circumstances throughout the Troubles.

'Normal-style policing'

This morning the secretary of state announced that the government is moving to begin the normalisation programme outlined in the Joint Declaration in the context of an enabling environment.

In keeping with the details outlined in Annex A, as published earlier, work will begin this week on the removal of the observation post at Divis Tower in Belfast. This work will take some time to complete.

Every community in Northern Ireland has a right to be policed

Hugh Orde

For some time now the Police Service of Northern Ireland has been increasingly delivering a more normal style of policing.

We have made substantial changes to the way in which we police as well as the appearance of our police stations and vehicles.

This has been driven forward by police at the front end who are keen to engage with the community in order to facilitate better delivery of policing right across Northern Ireland.

Every community in Northern Ireland has a right to be policed. In a democratic society policing is at the heart of the structures which facilitate respect for rights and duties within that society.

I do not believe therefore that anybody who espouses the values of justice, equality and human rights can continue to legitimately deny to their community the right to remedy wrongs done to them by seeking the protection of the police.

'Public service'

Policing is a public service which should be available to all members of the public and public representatives have a positive obligation to facilitate us in being available to their public.

We have a right to expect that Sinn Fein politicians will now engage directly, openly and constructively with district commanders and all officers at local level.

In fact, if they don't, they run the risk of being left behind because communities who witness the commitment of my officers on the ground are learning that we can and do protect them and that with increased confidence, trust and co-operation comes enhanced understanding, better relationships and better results.

We are determined to build on our success and achieve the even greater potential which we know is possible through greater engagement with the community.

We will continue to embrace those opportunities. It is for others to decide whether they want to be part of that better future.