1 Introduction
1. The Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern
Ireland was formally set up on 6 November 2000 under the Police
(Northern Ireland) Act 1998 ('the 1998 Act').[1]
Its principal function is to secure an efficient, effective and
independent police complaints system in Northern Ireland, and
to secure the confidence of both the public and the police in
that system. The Office forms a key part of the new accountability
arrangements for policing in Northern Ireland, which include the
Northern Ireland Policing Board, District Policing Partnerships,
and the Office of the Oversight Commissioner.[2]
2. Over three years have passed since the foundation
of the Office, and the purpose of our inquiry was to examine progress
made in this crucial initial phase. On 10 February 2004, the committee
announced the inquiry's terms of reference:
- Progress towards developing
a role for the Police Ombudsman since the Office was established
in November 2000
- The performance of the Office in respect of its
principal activities, and
- The efficiency and effectiveness of the administration
and expenditure of the Office, including its performance against
key indicators and targets
3. We took oral evidence on two occasions and are
grateful to all those who provided evidence to us. We paid an
informal visit to the Office of the Police Ombudsman in April
2004, and we are grateful to Mrs O'Loan and her staff for the
informative briefing we received. We wish to thank Dr Keith Bryett
, Specialist Advisor, for his assistance
1 The Northern Ireland Office stated in evidence that
it appointed Mrs Nuala O'Loan as Police Ombudsman in October 1999
(PONI 27). She took up her full-time designate responsibilities
in April 2000. The Office of the Police Ombudsman was formally
set up in November 2000 when Part VII of the Police (Northern
Ireland) Act 1998 came into force Back
2
These bodies were set up following the report of the Independent
Commission on Policing ('The Patten report'), A New Beginning:
Policing in Northern Ireland, The Report of the Independent Commission
on Policing for Northern Ireland, September 1999. The Northern
Ireland Policing Board was established in November 2001, replacing
the Police Authority for Northern Ireland which had been responsible
for police accountability since 1970. The Board's principal function
is to hold the Chief Constable and the police publicly accountable
for the performance of their functions and to ensure that the
police service is efficient and effective. During 2003/04, District
Policing Partnerships (DPPs) were set up in the 26 district council
areas of Northern Ireland. Their role is to consult with local
communities, establish policing priorities in conjunction with
the district command units of the police, and to act as forums
for discussion and consultation on matters affecting the policing
of a district. The Office of the Oversight Commissioner was set
up in May 2000 to oversee the implementation of recommendations
of the Patten report Back
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