MIXED REACTION TO PROPOSED REVAMP OF SPECIAL BRANCH
Mixed reaction to proposed revamp of Special Branch
A REVAMP of the PSNI's Special Branch proposed in a new report has met with mixed reactions.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has received the report by Dan Crompton of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary into the workings of Special Branch and its relations with other police departments.
It was ordered as a result of criticisms contained in the Police Ombudsman's report into the Omagh bomb investigation.
Mr Crompton's report has been accepted by the Policing Board and by the Chief Constable.
The report makes 11 key recommendations covering a number of areas including:
>Early consultations with a senior CID officers for all proactive Special Branch operations,
>More involvement of regional police chiefs in decisions about deployment on intelligence led operations,
>Better evaluation of intelligence,
>The introduction of a joint IT system to share intelligence,
>Better career planning, more training and service-wide experience for detectives.
Making his recommendations to the Policing Board, Mr Crompton said that while it was essential to maintain the ability of Special Branch, it was desirable that a more transparent and auditable decision-taking process was introduced.
"My report doesn't challenge the need for Special Branch, and doesn't seek to undermine Special Branch, it is about improving efficiency and performance in the Police Service of Northern Ireland as a whole," Mr Crompton said.
Welcomed
Mr Crompton's acceptance of a continued role for Special Branch as been welcomed by Mr Derek Hussey MLA.
He said the people of West Tyrone, and Omagh in particular, were acutely aware of concerns that existed in regard to the proper utilisation of police intelligence.
He said the Crompton Report was designed to improve the sharing of appropriate intelligence within the PSNI.
"I believe that policing intelligence in Northern Ireland centres on two fronts, criminal activities and anti-terrorist activities including the growing
Mafia-style crimes committed by terrorist groups.
"The former lies mainly within the remit of CID, but with the growth of Mafia-style crimes by terrorist associated groups, it is important that Special Branch improves liaison with CID and shares appropriate information with their colleagues."
He added that the creation of a Service Intelligence Branch co-ordinating the collection, evaluation, analysis and dissemination of intelligence, along with enhanced IT ability and standardised evaluation of intelligence, as in the rest of the UK, should add to the capability of the police to
carry out their duty to the community.
Mr Joe Byrne MLA, meanwhile, also welcomed the report as "dismantling the old guard in Special Branch".
Mr Byrne said the report showed that light was being shone into the darkest corners of policing.
Added Mr Byrne: "This report will end the 'force within a force' for good. A new intelligence branch will be set up , which will be firmly under the control of the wider police service. It will be obliged to share information, ending the current culture of secrecy.
"This is part of a wide transformation of intelligence gathering being championed by the SDLP working on the Board and with Nuala O'Loan and the Oversight Commissioner Tom Constantine. Already we have Special Branch down 50 per cent. A new tenure policy is also being brought forward to shift the old guard out of the Branch.
"This new report is a vindication of the SDLP's decision to join the Policing Board. Had we not joined, just think where we would be. The RUC would still be there; the old toothless unionist dominated Police Authority would still be there; Sir Ronnie Flanagan would still be there; Nuala
O'Loan's report into Omagh would have been crushed; Special Branch would still be unaccountable; and loyalists would still be untouched.
"The SDLP will never allow this to happen. Unlike Sinn Fein who handed their seats over to the unionists on the Policing Board we will not aid and abet those opposed to change."
But Mr Oliver Gibson MLA said the SDLP hopes that the Crompton Report would bring about the dismantling of Special Branch, but had been wrong.
The report was born out of Nuala O'Loan's investigation into the Omagh enquiry, but made it abundantly clear that Special Branch had acted properly.
"Those who pursued the line suggested by the Ombudsman that there was . a Special Branch failure are scraping egg of there faces. The report not only commends Special Branch, but also insist on its retention and development as a crucial aspect of modern day policing," Mr Gibson said.
He said the overall result of the report "would bring no comfort to the political defenders of terrorist criminals"
"I am delighted that, at long last, the target for republicanism the police Special Branch has been cleared of the allegations laid by those who planted the Omagh bomb," he said.
A REVAMP of the PSNI's Special Branch proposed in a new report has met with mixed reactions.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has received the report by Dan Crompton of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary into the workings of Special Branch and its relations with other police departments.
It was ordered as a result of criticisms contained in the Police Ombudsman's report into the Omagh bomb investigation.
Mr Crompton's report has been accepted by the Policing Board and by the Chief Constable.
The report makes 11 key recommendations covering a number of areas including:
>Early consultations with a senior CID officers for all proactive Special Branch operations,
>More involvement of regional police chiefs in decisions about deployment on intelligence led operations,
>Better evaluation of intelligence,
>The introduction of a joint IT system to share intelligence,
>Better career planning, more training and service-wide experience for detectives.
Making his recommendations to the Policing Board, Mr Crompton said that while it was essential to maintain the ability of Special Branch, it was desirable that a more transparent and auditable decision-taking process was introduced.
"My report doesn't challenge the need for Special Branch, and doesn't seek to undermine Special Branch, it is about improving efficiency and performance in the Police Service of Northern Ireland as a whole," Mr Crompton said.
Welcomed
Mr Crompton's acceptance of a continued role for Special Branch as been welcomed by Mr Derek Hussey MLA.
He said the people of West Tyrone, and Omagh in particular, were acutely aware of concerns that existed in regard to the proper utilisation of police intelligence.
He said the Crompton Report was designed to improve the sharing of appropriate intelligence within the PSNI.
"I believe that policing intelligence in Northern Ireland centres on two fronts, criminal activities and anti-terrorist activities including the growing
Mafia-style crimes committed by terrorist groups.
"The former lies mainly within the remit of CID, but with the growth of Mafia-style crimes by terrorist associated groups, it is important that Special Branch improves liaison with CID and shares appropriate information with their colleagues."
He added that the creation of a Service Intelligence Branch co-ordinating the collection, evaluation, analysis and dissemination of intelligence, along with enhanced IT ability and standardised evaluation of intelligence, as in the rest of the UK, should add to the capability of the police to
carry out their duty to the community.
Mr Joe Byrne MLA, meanwhile, also welcomed the report as "dismantling the old guard in Special Branch".
Mr Byrne said the report showed that light was being shone into the darkest corners of policing.
Added Mr Byrne: "This report will end the 'force within a force' for good. A new intelligence branch will be set up , which will be firmly under the control of the wider police service. It will be obliged to share information, ending the current culture of secrecy.
"This is part of a wide transformation of intelligence gathering being championed by the SDLP working on the Board and with Nuala O'Loan and the Oversight Commissioner Tom Constantine. Already we have Special Branch down 50 per cent. A new tenure policy is also being brought forward to shift the old guard out of the Branch.
"This new report is a vindication of the SDLP's decision to join the Policing Board. Had we not joined, just think where we would be. The RUC would still be there; the old toothless unionist dominated Police Authority would still be there; Sir Ronnie Flanagan would still be there; Nuala
O'Loan's report into Omagh would have been crushed; Special Branch would still be unaccountable; and loyalists would still be untouched.
"The SDLP will never allow this to happen. Unlike Sinn Fein who handed their seats over to the unionists on the Policing Board we will not aid and abet those opposed to change."
But Mr Oliver Gibson MLA said the SDLP hopes that the Crompton Report would bring about the dismantling of Special Branch, but had been wrong.
The report was born out of Nuala O'Loan's investigation into the Omagh enquiry, but made it abundantly clear that Special Branch had acted properly.
"Those who pursued the line suggested by the Ombudsman that there was . a Special Branch failure are scraping egg of there faces. The report not only commends Special Branch, but also insist on its retention and development as a crucial aspect of modern day policing," Mr Gibson said.
He said the overall result of the report "would bring no comfort to the political defenders of terrorist criminals"
"I am delighted that, at long last, the target for republicanism the police Special Branch has been cleared of the allegations laid by those who planted the Omagh bomb," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1129
Published Date: 14-Nov-02
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