Policing Board publishes Fifth Annual Report

The Northern Ireland Policing Board has today published its Fifth Annual Report, which contains an overview of the work of the Board and an assessment of police performance during the period from April 1 2005 – March 31 2006.

Welcoming the Report, Policing Board Chairman Professor Sir Desmond Rea said: “I am pleased to present this Annual Report that summarises our work and achievements for the period 1 April 2005 - 31 March 2006.

"While this is our fifth Annual Report, since the Board was established in November 2001, it is also the last of the first Northern Ireland Policing Board which came to the end of its term of office on 31 March 2006."

Sir Desmond continued: "Since the establishment of the Policing Board, its members have been entrusted with ensuring for all the people of Northern Ireland the delivery of an effective, efficient, accountable and impartial police service which secures the confidence of the whole community. The new Policing Board will continue to seek to achieve this objective.

"District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) have continued to deliver policing with the community during the past year; they have now become an integral and accepted part of local policing and their work on behalf of the whole community is to be commended.”

Looking to the challenges for the new Policing Board, Sir Desmond said: “There are still many challenges in the years ahead for policing and for the new Board. Issues such as the impact of the Review of Public Administration, new developments in the delivery of the policing service, and future pressure on police funding and resources.

"But successful policing cannot be carried out by the police alone – that requires the support – political and otherwise – of the whole community, and the necessary resources to do the job. This Board is committed to bringing this reality forward.”

Commenting on the publication of the Fifth Annual Report, Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Peter Hain, said that the Policing Board has played a fundamental role in securing a new era for policing in the province.

Peter Hain said: “This is the last report of the Board that came to the end of its term of office on 31 March and I would like to congratulate the Chairman Sir Desmond Rea and outgoing Vice-Chairman Denis Bradley for all of their hard work during this period.

“The Northern Ireland Policing Board has played a crucial role by fulfilling its remit of ensuring the delivery of an effective, impartial and accountable police service here. I look forward to continued success under the new Board which has already begun its work."

He concluded by saying that across Northern Ireland the District Policing Partnerships continue to make a significant impact in securing an accountable police service at a local level and undertake an important role in helping local PSNI officers to combat crime in their areas.

(EF)