The PSNI has rebuffed criticism of Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde from former Ulster Unionist security spokesman Lord Maginnis over talks between the Government and the UDA.

The peer complained it was “patently idiotic” for Sir Hugh to have attended the meeting, revealed earlier this week, but the PSNI said he had been invited by Security Minister Paul Goggins.

The former Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP, a previous adviser to the RUC Federation, nevertheless described the Chief Constables’ involvement in the discussions which included loyalist decommissioning as “unbridled arrogance”.

“We once had a police service that, despite sectarian conflict and horrific terrorism, sought to keep itself free of political bias and partisan involvement — not an easy task in a near civil war situation,” Lord Maginnis argued.

“Now we have a Police Command structure whose chief officer reportedly sits down to ‘negotiate' — to do deals — with those in possession of illegal arms— with terrorists and with criminals.

“I don't care which tradition these people come from — disarmament is a political issue and no community should be left feeling that its Chief Constable and police service is compromised by involvement in a deal.

“That was why we agreed to General de Chastelain's role (in the Decommissioning Commission) and the relevant legislation.

“Such indiscretion hasn't occurred before and neither I nor my colleagues can have any confidence in a PSNI Command that is part of a deal, beneficial or otherwise, with those who live and act outside the Law,” he said.

The PSNI said Mr Goggins held a meeting with the Ulster Political Research Group, which says it provides political analysis for the UDA, and other leading loyalists and the chief constable attended at the invitation of the Northern Ireland Office.

“The police service’s record on dealing with loyalist paramilitaries and those involved in criminality is very clear. It will not be tolerated,” a police spokeswoman added.

So-called South Belfast UDA ‘brigadier’ Jackie McDonald and other members of the UDA’s six-strong inner council were reported to be present at the discussions, which appear to have produced no breakthrough on UDA disarmament.