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25/09/2007
Police Compliance With Human Rights Report Published
The Northern Ireland Policing Board today published its third Annual Report into the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI’s) compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.
The 316 page report, which monitored how the police have met human rights responsibilities under the Human Rights Act on 15 key policing areas, found that significant progress had been made with a high level of compliance across a number of areas.
However, progress in implementing some of the previous year’s recommendations was mixed, and there were some areas of non-compliance causing concern.
Speaking at the launch of the report, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Sir Desmond Rea said that out of 80 recommendations made by the Board since its first Report in 2005, 52 recommendations had been implemented in full and 14 had been implemented in part.
Professor Rea said that real progress was evident in key areas such as complaints, discipline, public order and covert policing.
However, policy-making was an area causing concern. He said: "It is clear that a number of policies still have neither been reviewed nor updated. Human Rights underpin all aspects of police work and it is simply not good enough that a number of policies, which guide decision making for officers work, have not been reviewed."
He added that the Board will now require the PSNI to formerly report progess on these issues within three months of the Annual Report being published.
The Annual Report also highlights concerns regarding the lack of effective monitoring and review of the use of CS Incapacitant Spray and the need to put in place a clear and robust policy, guidance and training to ensure that any use of TASER in Northern Ireland fully complies with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act.
(LC/SP)
The 316 page report, which monitored how the police have met human rights responsibilities under the Human Rights Act on 15 key policing areas, found that significant progress had been made with a high level of compliance across a number of areas.
However, progress in implementing some of the previous year’s recommendations was mixed, and there were some areas of non-compliance causing concern.
Speaking at the launch of the report, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Sir Desmond Rea said that out of 80 recommendations made by the Board since its first Report in 2005, 52 recommendations had been implemented in full and 14 had been implemented in part.
Professor Rea said that real progress was evident in key areas such as complaints, discipline, public order and covert policing.
However, policy-making was an area causing concern. He said: "It is clear that a number of policies still have neither been reviewed nor updated. Human Rights underpin all aspects of police work and it is simply not good enough that a number of policies, which guide decision making for officers work, have not been reviewed."
He added that the Board will now require the PSNI to formerly report progess on these issues within three months of the Annual Report being published.
The Annual Report also highlights concerns regarding the lack of effective monitoring and review of the use of CS Incapacitant Spray and the need to put in place a clear and robust policy, guidance and training to ensure that any use of TASER in Northern Ireland fully complies with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act.
(LC/SP)
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Human rights central to citizenship - Minister
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Policing Board Human Rights report published
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has today published its second annual report on how the PSNI is meeting its responsibilities under the Human Rights Act 1998. The report also reveals that nearly two thirds of the recommendations made in the Policing Board’s Human Rights Annual Report 2005 had been fully implemented.
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24 March 2009
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28 January 2005
Belfast to hold international Human Rights conference
A major conference, bringing together over 20 international human rights leaders from 12 countries, will take place in Belfast this weekend.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cloudy day with a little light rain or drizzle at times, but some spells of drier weather too. The north coast may become somewhat brighter later this afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Cloudy and patchy light rain will slowly clear away this evening. Then the rest of the night will be dry with broken cloud. Westerly winds freshening in the early hours. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
