Police reform continuing apace says Oversight Commissioner

Northern Ireland's policing reforms are continuing apace, according to the latest report by the Oversight Commissioner for Policing Reform, Al Hutchinson.

Commenting on the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Policing in Northern Ireland (Patten Commission), Mr Hutchinson, in his first report as Commissioner, said that while "the PSNI's recruitment figures continue to be encouraging, the level of overall community support envisioned by the Independent Commission, as necessary for real change to occur, has unfortunately not yet been provided".

"The Policing Board and the District Policing Partnerships need to benefit from the full range of political representation to be truly effective. This has not yet happened," he said.

Mr Hutchinson also re-iterated that a key aspect of making the police service representative and acceptable to all of the people of Northern Ireland, was local community leaders (clerical, political and otherwise) being seen to support the new policing arrangements.

However, he praised those individuals who continued to "show great courage and serve their community directly, rather than acting to marginalize it, by serving in the PSNI or on key institutions like the Policing Board or the District Policing Partnerships".

Condemning the threats, intimidation and attacks these people are often subject to, he said those "supporting or engaging in what is a particularly harsh brand of vigilantism lack any form of accountability.

"These trends are certainly worrisome enough, but when coupled with increasing attacks on the most vulnerable in society, they represent an attack on society and on democracy as a whole. These issues will not and cannot be resolved by the police alone," he added.

In addition to areas of concern which remain, including the slow pace of civilianisation, delays in completing IT initiatives, the estate strategy, training exchanges and secondments, the Commissioners report also spelt out several accomplishments.

These include the progression of a Training, Education and Development strategy and a continued shift towards policing with the community.

The Commissioners Overview also noted progress within the Police Service's internal management and planning areas and important contributions to operational efficiency and effectiveness in addition to steady progress in the recruitment of regular police officers.

Mr Hutchinson said he recognised the PSNI's plan to implement the remainder of the Independent Commission's recommendations relating to Special Branch, as a solid effort. Any specific progress, or lack thereof, will be reported in September of 2004.

In addition to normal reporting during the scheduled year of remaining oversight, Mr Hutchinson said he would also provide a series of more in-depth, thematic reports on those areas the Independent Commission deemed crucial to sustainable success in a modern policing organisation. The first of these thematic reports will focus on progress made in the area of training and its impact on the change programme as a whole. This will be appended to the oversight report scheduled for release in September 2004.

Summarizing the report, Mr Hutchinson concluded: "It is my personal and professional opinion that progress towards achieving the new beginning envisioned by the Independent Commission is well under way. With increased community support any remaining challenges can also be overcome."

(MB)