Oversight Commissioner warns of policing ‘isolation’

The Oversight Commissioner for Policing Reform has said that he is “encouraged” by the pace of implementation of the Patton recommendations on policing, with the PSNI deserving much of the credit as it had accomplishing significant changes in difficult circumstances.

However, Oversight Commissioner Tom Constantine said that while overall progress on police reform had on balance been excellent, his seventh report repeated the Patton Commission’s warning against implementation of aspects of the recommendations in isolation.

In the course of its December 2002 evaluation, the oversight team had determined that there were several areas where progress had not been achieved at a “pace that could reasonably have been expected”. Though some of these were beyond the control of the responsible institution, the report noted that there were others yet to show sufficient progress.

However, Mr Constantine also said he continued to be impressed by the Policing Board, which has met its complex responsibilities with “courage, intelligence and commitment to the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland, in holding the Chief Constable and the Police Service of Northern Ireland publicly to account”.

He particularly noted that a marked success for the Policing Board was the recent establishment across Northern Ireland of District Policing Partnerships (DPPs).

Concluding Mr Constantine said that the only answer to combating lawless and violent behaviour by criminal gangs was a professional and well-resourced Police Service that was “fully supported by all of the citizens of Northern Ireland”.

The Chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, welcomed the Commissioner’s positive review of the Board’s performance.

He said: “Today’s report provides welcome public acknowledgement of the achievements of the Board and the commitment of its members to ensuring effective, efficient and accountable policing for the whole community in Northern Ireland.”

Professor Rea added: “The Board believes that the community lies at the heart of effective policing and the central pillar of policing in Northern Ireland must be policing with the community.”

He noted the Commissioner’s previously voiced concerns about the amalgamation of Special Branch and Crime Branch, and welcomed the comments that the Crompton report, which was commissioned by the Policing Board was a ‘well researched and professional’ report.

Professor Rea said that the Board recognised the importance of full implementation of the Crompton report and the Board will be discussing this with the Chief Constable.

He said: “The Policing Board remains fully committed to meeting its responsibilities and working with the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Office, the Oversight Commissioner and most importantly, with the Northern Ireland community, to ensure effective and efficient policing for the whole community."

(SP)