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09/06/2005
Oversight Commissioner's report praises policing reform
The 13th Report by the Police Oversight Commissioner has praised the progress that has been made in policing reform over the past six years.
The report, by Oversight Commissioner Al Hutchinson released on Thursday, revealed that 78% of the Independent Commission's recommendations are now either fully implemented or "substantially progressed"; this equates to 114 recommendations that have been fully completed and 22 partially implemented.
The report also showed that recruitment of new officers had been a notable success. Since 2001 over 43,000 applications have been received with 1,500 new recruits having been hired on a 50:50 basis, while Catholic representation on the force is now 17.7%.
Welcoming the report, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said: “There is no doubt that a vast amount of progress has been made and the Oversight Commissioner has said that he has confidence that the remaining recommendations will be achieved.
“The Patten Report was published almost six years ago and I think the time is right to discuss with Government about what remains outstanding and how to move on.”
However, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Policing and Justice Gerry Kelly said that the vision of the new beginning to policing enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 remained "unfinished business".
Commenting on today’s report, Mr Kelly said: "The Oversight Commissioner’s report still highlights other outstanding problems including plastic bullets, the full–time reserve, community policing, human rights, demilitarisation and the ‘force within a force’.
"Together, this is evidence of resistance to change in policing which still pervades the PSNI and the NIO. For our part, Sinn Fein will pursue proper policing and justice with all our energy."
The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, also known as the Patten Commission, was set up after the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
(MB/SP)
The report, by Oversight Commissioner Al Hutchinson released on Thursday, revealed that 78% of the Independent Commission's recommendations are now either fully implemented or "substantially progressed"; this equates to 114 recommendations that have been fully completed and 22 partially implemented.
The report also showed that recruitment of new officers had been a notable success. Since 2001 over 43,000 applications have been received with 1,500 new recruits having been hired on a 50:50 basis, while Catholic representation on the force is now 17.7%.
Welcoming the report, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said: “There is no doubt that a vast amount of progress has been made and the Oversight Commissioner has said that he has confidence that the remaining recommendations will be achieved.
“The Patten Report was published almost six years ago and I think the time is right to discuss with Government about what remains outstanding and how to move on.”
However, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Policing and Justice Gerry Kelly said that the vision of the new beginning to policing enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 remained "unfinished business".
Commenting on today’s report, Mr Kelly said: "The Oversight Commissioner’s report still highlights other outstanding problems including plastic bullets, the full–time reserve, community policing, human rights, demilitarisation and the ‘force within a force’.
"Together, this is evidence of resistance to change in policing which still pervades the PSNI and the NIO. For our part, Sinn Fein will pursue proper policing and justice with all our energy."
The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, also known as the Patten Commission, was set up after the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
(MB/SP)
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Oversight Commissioner warns of policing ‘isolation’
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27 April 2004
Policing Board Chairman welcomes Oversight Commissioner’s report
The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, has welcomed today's Oversight Commissioner’s report and has supported the report's call for full public and political support for policing.
Policing Board Chairman welcomes Oversight Commissioner’s report
The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, has welcomed today's Oversight Commissioner’s report and has supported the report's call for full public and political support for policing.
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