The BBC is reporting a further step in the peace process in Northern Ireland:

The British Army’s emergency operation in Northern Ireland comes to an end at midnight on Tuesday after 38 years. Operation Banner is the Army’s longest continuous campaign in its history with more than 300,000 personnel serving and 763 directly killed by paramilitaries. A garrison of 5,000 troops will remain but security will be entirely the responsibility of the police.

Long may it stay that way!