Ombudsman highlights PSNI baton complaints

Research by the Police Ombudsman’s Office has shown that police in Northern Ireland are 40 times more likely to receive complaints about their use of batons than their UK counterparts.

The report also revealed that PSNI officers are six times more likely to be assaulted than their colleagues in Great Britain.

The Police Ombudsman, Mrs Nuala O’Loan, said the research highlighted the fact that officers here have to deal with a much greater level of street violence than do their counterparts in the other police services and are suffering a much higher level of assault: “Police officers in Northern Ireland do a difficult job and they encounter public disorder situations that are considerably more violent and life-threatening than in other areas,” she said.

As for the 40 times higher rate of complaints about baton use, Mrs O’Loan stressed that it was a research statistic and that these complaints represented allegations which had yet to be proven. However, she said the statistic did point to a worrying trend: “Police officers here are armed, of course, and I can see circumstances where it would be right and proper for them to use their batons to prevent their firearms being seized, as this would put them and their assailant in increased danger.

"Having said that, such incidents do not explain the much higher number of complaints about baton use observed in Northern Ireland. There does seem to be a problem."

Most of the complaints about baton use made to the Police Ombudsman’s Office arose out of arrests and involved incidents which took place on Saturdays or Sundays.

Mrs O’Loan expressed concern that 31% of complaints alleged blows to the neck or head, despite long-standing instructions that blows to the head should be used in only extremely grave situations.

Based on the findings of the report, the Police Ombudsman has recommended that the Police Service of Northern Ireland should implement a series of measures to tackle the issues.

(MB)