FLANAGAN SET FOR ROLE AS UK WATCHDOG
Flanagan set for role as UK watchdog
By Kieran McDaid
RETIRING Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan is to take on the role of a top UK police watchdog, it was announced yesterday.
Sir Ronnie's appointment as one of two new Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary was confirmed by British Home Secretary David Blunkett.
Later this week, the Policing Board in Belfast will discuss his future in the aftermath of his bitter fall out with Northern Ireland's most senior police watchdog, Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
Sir Ronnie had already planned to stand down as head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and his three-month resignation is due to come into effect at the end of the month.
It is not clear when Sir Ronnie will start inspecting forces in the eastern region of England, including the Metropolitan and City of London.
But with Dan Crompton, another of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary due to retire this summer, it could be at least three months before he takes on his new job.
The Home Office last night said no starting date had been set. A spokesman said it was a matter for the Northern Ireland policing board. A spokeswoman also pointed out that as a former serving chief constable of the PSNI, he will not be involved in any examination of the role of Special Branch or any other aspect of policing in the north.
News of his move to the HMIC also comes after reports that the UUP have moved to amend Criminal Justice Legislation currently being framed to allow the Inspectorate to oversee the work of the police ombudsman.
Chief constable of Merseyside Norman Bettison was the second new HMIC appointed yesterday, and will have responsibility for inspecting forces in the northern region, including the PSNI.
The pair will join two other sitting HIMC Inspectors.
Sir Ronnie last night said he looked forward to applying his experience for the benefit of others.
He said his appointment was an acknowledgement of the "unique expertise" of the RUC and PSNI.
He added: "The men and women I have had the privilege to work with in policing over the last 32 years are simply unsurpassed anywhere in the policing world. Anything I had been able to do is down to them."
Home Secretary David Blunkett said: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Norman Bettison as Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary.
"They have a wealth of experience and I'm confident they will provide a valuable contribution to raising police standards."
The Northern Ireland policing board will begin the process of finding the next chief constable at a meeting on Thursday when a decision is also expected on Sir Ronnie's immediate future.
It is expected Colin Cramphorn will take over as acting chief constable in an interim period. However, the Irish News has learned Mr Cramphorn is on a four person shortlist to take over as chief constable of Greater Manchester Police Force.
Some of the Omagh relatives, disillusioned and angry with the failure to bring murder charges against the men responsible for the atrocity, have withdrawn their backing for the chief constable and are seeking a completely new investigative team to take over the inquiry.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan (21) was among the dead, said last night that he was stunned by Sir Ronnie's appointment.
He said: "It is obviously a political decision. The government is sending a clear message to the policing board that they have every confidence in this man. We do not share that view."
Sir Ronnie said he was extremely proud that his force had been recognised by the appointment.
"This is acknowledgement of the unique expertise of the RUC, latterly the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in not only the most difficult and dangerous of policing circumstances, but also of being at the forefront of policing reform," he said.
Secretary of State John Reid said he was delighted and claimed Sir Ronnie would bring a wealth of experience after 30 years in the most demanding and difficult policing circumstances in the world.
Sir Ronnie he said, had been totally committed to managing the unprecedented change process within policing in Northern Ireland.
"He had a vision of policing in the 21st Century and a clear ability to inspire and lead others in that direction," he said.
Alex Attwood, an SDLP representative on the Policing Board, noted Sir Ronnie's role in police reform but claimed he had resisted other key changes.
"It's acknowledged that while there are legitimate and enduring concerns about his acceptance of certain policing matters Ronnie Flanagan did make a contribution to the safe delivery of policing change and useful interventions in the Patten debate," he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein north Belfast assembly member Gerry Kelly said many people in Britain would be concerned by his appointment.
"He has presided over the RUC and its Special Branch and has been recently further discredited by the police ombudsman and is now being tasked with inspecting their police forces," he said.
The former Ulster Unionist MP Lord Maginnis, one of Mrs O'Loan's toughest critics over Omagh, said Sir Ronnie's appointment would leave a vacuum in terms of unresolved debate.
He said: "I see it as letting the Police Ombudsman off the hook. Ronnie Flanagan would not be appointed if he was not able to make professional assessments.
"An injustice (Mrs O'Loan's report) has been done and it has to be resolved,"
The chairman of the policing board Professor Desmond Rea said the appointment was a tribute to his contribution to policing through 30 difficult years.
"Sir Ronnie has greatly facilitated the transition from the RUC to the PSNI by the way in which he has embraced and led the change agenda," he said.
By Kieran McDaid
RETIRING Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan is to take on the role of a top UK police watchdog, it was announced yesterday.
Sir Ronnie's appointment as one of two new Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary was confirmed by British Home Secretary David Blunkett.
Later this week, the Policing Board in Belfast will discuss his future in the aftermath of his bitter fall out with Northern Ireland's most senior police watchdog, Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
Sir Ronnie had already planned to stand down as head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and his three-month resignation is due to come into effect at the end of the month.
It is not clear when Sir Ronnie will start inspecting forces in the eastern region of England, including the Metropolitan and City of London.
But with Dan Crompton, another of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary due to retire this summer, it could be at least three months before he takes on his new job.
The Home Office last night said no starting date had been set. A spokesman said it was a matter for the Northern Ireland policing board. A spokeswoman also pointed out that as a former serving chief constable of the PSNI, he will not be involved in any examination of the role of Special Branch or any other aspect of policing in the north.
News of his move to the HMIC also comes after reports that the UUP have moved to amend Criminal Justice Legislation currently being framed to allow the Inspectorate to oversee the work of the police ombudsman.
Chief constable of Merseyside Norman Bettison was the second new HMIC appointed yesterday, and will have responsibility for inspecting forces in the northern region, including the PSNI.
The pair will join two other sitting HIMC Inspectors.
Sir Ronnie last night said he looked forward to applying his experience for the benefit of others.
He said his appointment was an acknowledgement of the "unique expertise" of the RUC and PSNI.
He added: "The men and women I have had the privilege to work with in policing over the last 32 years are simply unsurpassed anywhere in the policing world. Anything I had been able to do is down to them."
Home Secretary David Blunkett said: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Norman Bettison as Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary.
"They have a wealth of experience and I'm confident they will provide a valuable contribution to raising police standards."
The Northern Ireland policing board will begin the process of finding the next chief constable at a meeting on Thursday when a decision is also expected on Sir Ronnie's immediate future.
It is expected Colin Cramphorn will take over as acting chief constable in an interim period. However, the Irish News has learned Mr Cramphorn is on a four person shortlist to take over as chief constable of Greater Manchester Police Force.
Some of the Omagh relatives, disillusioned and angry with the failure to bring murder charges against the men responsible for the atrocity, have withdrawn their backing for the chief constable and are seeking a completely new investigative team to take over the inquiry.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan (21) was among the dead, said last night that he was stunned by Sir Ronnie's appointment.
He said: "It is obviously a political decision. The government is sending a clear message to the policing board that they have every confidence in this man. We do not share that view."
Sir Ronnie said he was extremely proud that his force had been recognised by the appointment.
"This is acknowledgement of the unique expertise of the RUC, latterly the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in not only the most difficult and dangerous of policing circumstances, but also of being at the forefront of policing reform," he said.
Secretary of State John Reid said he was delighted and claimed Sir Ronnie would bring a wealth of experience after 30 years in the most demanding and difficult policing circumstances in the world.
Sir Ronnie he said, had been totally committed to managing the unprecedented change process within policing in Northern Ireland.
"He had a vision of policing in the 21st Century and a clear ability to inspire and lead others in that direction," he said.
Alex Attwood, an SDLP representative on the Policing Board, noted Sir Ronnie's role in police reform but claimed he had resisted other key changes.
"It's acknowledged that while there are legitimate and enduring concerns about his acceptance of certain policing matters Ronnie Flanagan did make a contribution to the safe delivery of policing change and useful interventions in the Patten debate," he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein north Belfast assembly member Gerry Kelly said many people in Britain would be concerned by his appointment.
"He has presided over the RUC and its Special Branch and has been recently further discredited by the police ombudsman and is now being tasked with inspecting their police forces," he said.
The former Ulster Unionist MP Lord Maginnis, one of Mrs O'Loan's toughest critics over Omagh, said Sir Ronnie's appointment would leave a vacuum in terms of unresolved debate.
He said: "I see it as letting the Police Ombudsman off the hook. Ronnie Flanagan would not be appointed if he was not able to make professional assessments.
"An injustice (Mrs O'Loan's report) has been done and it has to be resolved,"
The chairman of the policing board Professor Desmond Rea said the appointment was a tribute to his contribution to policing through 30 difficult years.
"Sir Ronnie has greatly facilitated the transition from the RUC to the PSNI by the way in which he has embraced and led the change agenda," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0546
Published Date: 20-Feb-02
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