Northern Ireland's most senior policeman said yesterday that the IRA was continuing to recruit volunteers.

Although Hugh Orde, the province's chief constable, said he was "clear" that the Provisional IRA was not going back to an armed struggle, he added: "We know they are still recruiting, they still target, they still carry out the activities that they have always done, with the exception of going out to kill soldiers, police, civilians, members of the public."