APPENDIX 19
Memorandum submitted by North Down District
Policing Partnership
At a recent meeting North Down District Policing
Partnership considered your request for evidence as to the function
of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. (NIPB.)The Partnership
considered the general functions of the Board as contained in
the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 and noted a number of concerns.1.During
the last 18 months there have been many instances when our Partnership
had to press the NIPB for clear guidance on issues to which they
wished a response. This lack of information, clarity and communication
was most frustrating particularly as the Board imposed tight deadlines
and time scales.2.There was difficulty with the first year's budget
in that detailed information was not provided in time to allow
proper preparation of the Partnership's Business Plan. The current
year's budget is only now available (half way through the financial
year) and questions remain unanswered on changes to its make up.3.The
Chief Constable has decided to dispense with the Full Reserve
element of the Police from next year. No details are available
on the implications for this District which currently has 30%
of its available front line police as members of the Reserve.
No information has been received from the Board on how the Police
Service can continue to operate efficiently and effectively. It
would appear to us that the Board has not held the Chief Constable
to account for his actions in this area, as the Patton Report
did not stipulate a time frame for the termination of the Reserve.
The new severance package available to Fulltime Reserve Officers
will resolve the matter in due course by which time new recruits
will be trained to fill the gaps created.4.Training for Partnerships
has been sporadic and some areas which have been identified by
the NIPB have not yet been addressed.5.The NIPB has been in existence
for some three years and should have resolved any organisational/administration
problems by now. Unfortunately this is not the case.19 October
2004
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