Human Rights Commission questions PSNI training

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has called into question some of the PSNI's human rights practices during officer training.

The Commission said that although significant progress has been made in enhancing the human rights content of the training, "the PSNI is not yet providing enough human rights training".

"More needs to be done to integrate and enhance the human rights element of the training programmes," the group said.

THE NIHRC report noted that "trainers delivering the tactical patrolling course did engage with human rights considerations during practical exercises but, when delivering classroom-based learning events, their coverage of specific human rights issues was not adequate to respond to the legitimate expectations of probationer constables.

"It is recommended that the trainers concerned receive additional training to support them in the delivery of the classroom-based elements of the tactical patrolling course."

Commenting on the report, its author Mark Kelly, said: “The outstanding impediments to mainstreaming human rights which have been identified in this report merit close attention by the PSNI. They have taken some steps already.

"For example, I note in the report particularly effective use of problem-orientated material during the tactical patrolling and initial firearms courses. However more action on the integration of human rights into the training is required urgently.”

Representatives of the Commission and of the PSNI meet on a quarterly basis to discuss matters of mutual interest.

In the past few months there have been two meetings involving the Chief Commissioner and Chief Constable, Hugh Orde to discuss the Commission’s proposed evaluation of the police’s tutor officer scheme.

It is believed that agreement has still to be reached on the precise terms of reference of that further evaluation.

(MB)