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04/12/2014
New PSNI Unit To Examine Troubles
The PSNI has announced a new unit that will investigate the legacy of the Troubles in the New Year.
The Legacy Investigation Branch was announced at the December meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board by Chief Constable George Hamilton.
The Branch will take over from what was previously the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and will also focus on any murder cases that took place prior to the establishment of Crime Operations Department in 2004. This will include the Bloody Sunday investigation and the re-examination of the on-the-run cases.
Mr Hamilton said: "In the continued absence of an agreed political and societal response to Northern Ireland's past, the Police Service plans to fulfil its statutory obligations through a new Legacy Investigation Branch.
"The formation of this Branch will ensure that we fulfil these legal obligations in terms of reviewing and investigating the past. It is our intention that it will be integrated into Crime Operations Department and will be accountable to me, under the direction of the Assistant Chief Constable for Crime Operations, Will Kerr.
"I have agreed to a resource level for this new Branch of about 70 officers and staff but current financial and operational pressures mean that it may take some time to get to this figure."
ACC Kerr said: "The new structure will consolidate existing expertise and experience, provide a fully accountable means of dealing with the past and, against a background of diminished resources, form an effective buffer between investigating the past and delivering contemporary policing which has to be our priority. It is not perfect but it is the best we can do in the current unsatisfactory and unprecedented circumstances."
(IT/JP)
The Legacy Investigation Branch was announced at the December meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board by Chief Constable George Hamilton.
The Branch will take over from what was previously the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and will also focus on any murder cases that took place prior to the establishment of Crime Operations Department in 2004. This will include the Bloody Sunday investigation and the re-examination of the on-the-run cases.
Mr Hamilton said: "In the continued absence of an agreed political and societal response to Northern Ireland's past, the Police Service plans to fulfil its statutory obligations through a new Legacy Investigation Branch.
"The formation of this Branch will ensure that we fulfil these legal obligations in terms of reviewing and investigating the past. It is our intention that it will be integrated into Crime Operations Department and will be accountable to me, under the direction of the Assistant Chief Constable for Crime Operations, Will Kerr.
"I have agreed to a resource level for this new Branch of about 70 officers and staff but current financial and operational pressures mean that it may take some time to get to this figure."
ACC Kerr said: "The new structure will consolidate existing expertise and experience, provide a fully accountable means of dealing with the past and, against a background of diminished resources, form an effective buffer between investigating the past and delivering contemporary policing which has to be our priority. It is not perfect but it is the best we can do in the current unsatisfactory and unprecedented circumstances."
(IT/JP)
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