NEW DELHI: Separation of investigation and law and order is the core to police reforms, the Supreme Court today said asking state governments to respond as to what action it has taken in the last eight years since it passed the order on the issue.A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said that out of many issues relating to police reforms, this is the most important and it has to be implemented on urgent basis.The bench said other issues regarding fixed tenure for police officials and setting up of Police Establishment Board for appointment and transfer of personnel will be considered later.It expressed concern that its order passed in 2006 on police reforms have not been implemented by the state. The bench also suggested that a special unit be in police force to deal exclusively with serious offences.In 2006, the Supreme Court had on a petition filed by retired IPS officer Prakash Singh issued a series of directions - a Security Commission at the state level; transparent procedure for appointment of police chief and desirability of giving him a fixed tenure; separation of investigation work from law and order duties; and a new Police Act to reflect the democratic aspirations of people.The apex court had on April 11 last year issued notice to all states and UTs to apprise it of implementation of its 2006 order on police reforms.