25/11/2025
Police Ombudsman Highlights Digital Abuse And Resource Gaps In PSNI
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has released a statement focusing on the digital realm in support of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, detailing how its investigations challenge harmful digital abuse and reveal resourcing issues within the PSNI.
The Ombudsman's office cited the case of convicted online sex offender Alexander McCartney as a stark illustration of how abuse can quickly move from online to real life, with devastating consequences.
Chief Executive Hugh Hume spoke about the investigation, which highlighted that PSNI teams tasked with detecting and investigating online child sexual abuse were significantly under-resourced and under pressure.
Mr. Hume revealed that when devices were initially seized from McCartney in 2016, the investigation team had only five officers in post against a complement of 14.
"This resulted in delays in the investigation and potential prosecution of those whose activities pose such a risk to children and young people, and opportunities to proactively follow evidence... were missed," Mr. Hume stated.
The Ombudsman also highlighted the issue of misogynistic and predatory behaviour within the police service itself. In one recent case, an officer was dismissed for sending "highly inappropriate and offensive" messages via WhatsApp containing sectarian, racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, and sexualised material, often while on duty.
Director of Investigations, Nikki Davis, said such messaging "targets women and combines sexual, racist and sectarian references, it moves into the realm of online gender-based hate speech," adding that such behaviour undermines the PSNI's commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
The Ombudsman's office is currently investigating more than 20 cases of predatory police behaviour, often involving the use of digital contact as part of the grooming of victims.
The Ombudsman welcomed proposed changes to the PSNI Code of Ethics, which include specific additions around digital communication and the use of social media. The draft code now states that police officers shall ensure that nothing is published, even in private messages and group chats, that is discriminatory, misogynistic, abusive, or otherwise incompatible with their professional role.
The Ombudsman's office cited the case of convicted online sex offender Alexander McCartney as a stark illustration of how abuse can quickly move from online to real life, with devastating consequences.
Chief Executive Hugh Hume spoke about the investigation, which highlighted that PSNI teams tasked with detecting and investigating online child sexual abuse were significantly under-resourced and under pressure.
Mr. Hume revealed that when devices were initially seized from McCartney in 2016, the investigation team had only five officers in post against a complement of 14.
"This resulted in delays in the investigation and potential prosecution of those whose activities pose such a risk to children and young people, and opportunities to proactively follow evidence... were missed," Mr. Hume stated.
Director of Investigations, Nikki Davis, said such messaging "targets women and combines sexual, racist and sectarian references, it moves into the realm of online gender-based hate speech," adding that such behaviour undermines the PSNI's commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
The Ombudsman's office is currently investigating more than 20 cases of predatory police behaviour, often involving the use of digital contact as part of the grooming of victims.
The Ombudsman welcomed proposed changes to the PSNI Code of Ethics, which include specific additions around digital communication and the use of social media. The draft code now states that police officers shall ensure that nothing is published, even in private messages and group chats, that is discriminatory, misogynistic, abusive, or otherwise incompatible with their professional role.
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