PSNI's Human Rights Record Assessed

A new report from the Northern Ireland Policing Board has highlighted concerns around the police's actions over policy making issues, with earlier problems thrown up by the watchdog body still going unaddressed.

The Board has today published its fourth 'Annual Report into the Police Service of Northern Ireland' which has looked at compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.

The 256 page document assessing how the police have met human rights responsibilities across 15 key policing areas during the last year, found that whilst significant progress had been made, attention needs to be focused on a number of key areas in the year ahead.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Sir Desmond Rea said: "The report published today provides a detailed assessment of compliance over the last year.

"The 2008 report includes 30 new recommendations for the PSNI, however it is important to note that out of 149 recommendations made by the Board since its first Report in 2005, 135 recommendations had been implemented in full; 11 had been withdrawn; and three are outstanding."

He said that delivery against these recommendations evidences the progress that has been achieved in a number of key areas.

"These include operations, public order, covert policing, victims' rights and complaints and discipline," he continued.

"In other areas, like training, comprehensive work has also been undertaken in the last two years to comply with the Board's recommendations."

That said, Board Members are still concerned: "Recommendations previously identified in critical areas such as policy making, have not yet been fully addressed," Sir Desmond continued.

"It is clear from the report that significant work has been undertaken to complete the internal review of all current policy directives and service procedures.

"However, 19 directives and 100 service procedures have not yet been reviewed and this is disappointing.

"Therefore the Board is requiring the PSNI to complete its internal review of all current PSNI policy directives and service procedures, including a quality assurance element, by the end of this year and to report to the Board on progress in January 2009," Sir Desmond said.

Speaking about the report, the Board's Human Rights Advisor Jane Gordon said: "The Chief Constable and the PSNI are to be congratulated on their commitment to implementing the recommendations we have made over the course of the last three years.

"I recognise the hard work that has been undertaken to achieve this impressive result.

"However, it is disappointing that some key recommendations made in previous annual reports have not yet been delivered and these outstanding issues must be given urgent attention," she said and indicated that the challenge the PSNI now faces is "developing and sustaining a positive human rights culture amongst its officers at all ranks, from probationer to Chief Constable".

(BMcC)