Oversight Commissioner publishes 16th report

The Police Oversight Commissioner for Northern Ireland has said that the transfer of responsibility for matters of national security from the police to MI5 is a cause of concern.

In his 16th report, published today, Oversight Commissioner Al Hutchinson said the move must not stop police investigating organised crime.

The report also criticized the failure to build a new police training college in the province, however praised the "tremendous progress" made by the transformation in policing over the past five years.

The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, more commonly known as the Patten Commission, was created in 1998 under the Good Friday Agreement in a bid to develop a police service for the whole community.

Mr Hutchinson was put in charge of implementing the 175 recommendations by the Patten Commission, 124 of which have since been completed with a further 21 showing 'substantial progress.'

This means that M15 will gather intelligence on paramilitary activity, while police will deal will criminal intelligence.

During the Commissioners 16th report, he outlines the fact that the difference between criminal and terrorist activity is sometimes hard to distinguish and said that these changes must not interfere with police investigating organised crime.

He also raised his concerns about the failure to provide a new police training college after the government granted permission and pledged £90 million to do so.

He added that things had changed so much that there was nothing preventing Sinn Fein members from now joining the Policing Board.

Speaking earlier, Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner, who has responsibility for the management of change within the Service, said:"The Police Service has embraced the reforms set out by Patten and worked hard to drive change forward. Today's report is an important endorsement of the work carried out so far.

"We are committed to continue to deliver on change through professional and progressive policing."

Commenting on the Commissioners points raised on the new police training college, Mr Toner added: "The Commissioner has also expressed a concern on the police estate. We have in place an estate strategy which represents an investment programme of more than £200 million in new stations, improved buildings, softening the appearance of stations and targeted maintenance."

Mr Hutchinson, took over as Oversight Commissioner from Tom Constantine who held the position from May 2000 until his retirement at the end of 2003.

(EF/GB)