05/06/2015

Call For Minister Ford To Explain Why Police Handed Back £15m

Sinn Féin is urging the Justice Minister to explain why the PSNI gave back almost £15 million of its budget despite financial pressures on the Ombudsman's office.

Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard has written to Minister David Ford to remind him of his department's responsibility to ensure that the Ombudsman's office is adequately resourced.

Mr Hazzard said: "In the last year the Ombudsman's office has been forced to make savings of £385,000 which have had a direct impact in relation to the timelines and quality of investigations - including a growing number of legacy cases.

"We know that even a small cut in the Ombudsman's budget can make a huge difference to its operations.

"Given the lengthy ordeal that many families experience in obtaining truth and justice; PSNI budgets should have been reallocated in advance of the monitoring round to allow much needed funds to be redirected towards the Ombudsman's office."

(CD)

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