Security authorities are said to be heavily criticised in two reports to be published shortly on arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Metropolitan police commissioner Sir John Stevens has an interview to conduct with former head of the Force Research Unit Brigadier Gordon Kerr, before he releases his report into alleged collusion between British armed forces and loyalist groups in the 1980s, which he has been investigating for the past 10 years.

A report by former permanent secretary in the Northern Ireland Office, Sir John Chilcott, is expected to be highly critical of the security services, as it examines the national security implications of the break-in at the Castlereagh special branch office in March.