DECISION REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD - JOE BYRNE
Decision represents a 'significant step forward' - Joe Byrne
JOE Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone and member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, has stated that the Policing Board's decisions in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation are a significant step forward and would give the Omagh investigation a new impetus.
Mr Byrne said: "The Policing Board's decisions in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation are a significant step forward and would give the investigation a new impetus. The Board has unanimously agreed upon a comprehensive series of measures which demonstrate that the Policing Board has the independence and the authority to deal with controversial and sensitive cases such as the Omagh bomb investigation.
"Central to the Board's response is the enhanced role of the external senior officer, who will have the same status of the PSNI's Senior Investigating Officer. This officer will scrutinise the current investigation and will work to ensure that all evidential opportunities are maximised.
"The external senior officer will explore dissident republican incidents prior to the Omagh bomb that could be linked and which may provide new opportunities to secure prosecutions," said Mr Byrne.
"This officer also has the power to identify any obstacles which may be holding up the investigation, have access to all intelligence in relation to the investigation and will have direct access to the Chief Constable on any matter of concern," he added.
Continuing Mr Byrne said it was important that the Board had decided to appoint an external Deputy Chief Constable or an Assistant Chief Constable to overview all matters of the Omagh investigation.
"This overview officer will monitor the progress of the investigation, offer strategic guidance to the Board and will report to the Board on a regular basis."
"The Policing Board also highlighted the importance of maximum co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI. The Omagh atrocity was planned and carried out by terrorists operating on a cross border basis and therefore the PSNI's working relationship with An Garda Siochana will be enhanced. This will be the task of the senior officer appointed by the Board to overview the investigation," added Mr Byrne.
Continuing, he said the Policing Board had also fully addressed the issue of Special Branch structures and the distribution of information into other parts of the PSNI.
"In a series of far reaching decisions which go to the heart of the Special Branch issue, the Board has agreed to:
a. The current reorganisation of Special Branch will be enhanced by a review into Special Branch structures and procedures.
b. This review will be conducted by HMIC (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary) and will report to the Board.
c. A Committee of the Board will conduct a 'boring down exercise', designed to examine how in practical terms, intelligence is disseminated and shared with other parts of the Police Service.
"These measures, along with Patten proposals on Special Branch, will ensure that this area of policing will be opened up to scrutiny, held to account and will mark a radical departure from the policing practices of the past."
Concluding Mr Byrne said: "Overall, the Policing Board's decisions are a demonstration that the Board has got real powers and intends to exercise them to ensure that Policing in the North is effective, transparent and accountable."
JOE Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone and member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, has stated that the Policing Board's decisions in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation are a significant step forward and would give the Omagh investigation a new impetus.
Mr Byrne said: "The Policing Board's decisions in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation are a significant step forward and would give the investigation a new impetus. The Board has unanimously agreed upon a comprehensive series of measures which demonstrate that the Policing Board has the independence and the authority to deal with controversial and sensitive cases such as the Omagh bomb investigation.
"Central to the Board's response is the enhanced role of the external senior officer, who will have the same status of the PSNI's Senior Investigating Officer. This officer will scrutinise the current investigation and will work to ensure that all evidential opportunities are maximised.
"The external senior officer will explore dissident republican incidents prior to the Omagh bomb that could be linked and which may provide new opportunities to secure prosecutions," said Mr Byrne.
"This officer also has the power to identify any obstacles which may be holding up the investigation, have access to all intelligence in relation to the investigation and will have direct access to the Chief Constable on any matter of concern," he added.
Continuing Mr Byrne said it was important that the Board had decided to appoint an external Deputy Chief Constable or an Assistant Chief Constable to overview all matters of the Omagh investigation.
"This overview officer will monitor the progress of the investigation, offer strategic guidance to the Board and will report to the Board on a regular basis."
"The Policing Board also highlighted the importance of maximum co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI. The Omagh atrocity was planned and carried out by terrorists operating on a cross border basis and therefore the PSNI's working relationship with An Garda Siochana will be enhanced. This will be the task of the senior officer appointed by the Board to overview the investigation," added Mr Byrne.
Continuing, he said the Policing Board had also fully addressed the issue of Special Branch structures and the distribution of information into other parts of the PSNI.
"In a series of far reaching decisions which go to the heart of the Special Branch issue, the Board has agreed to:
a. The current reorganisation of Special Branch will be enhanced by a review into Special Branch structures and procedures.
b. This review will be conducted by HMIC (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary) and will report to the Board.
c. A Committee of the Board will conduct a 'boring down exercise', designed to examine how in practical terms, intelligence is disseminated and shared with other parts of the Police Service.
"These measures, along with Patten proposals on Special Branch, will ensure that this area of policing will be opened up to scrutiny, held to account and will mark a radical departure from the policing practices of the past."
Concluding Mr Byrne said: "Overall, the Policing Board's decisions are a demonstration that the Board has got real powers and intends to exercise them to ensure that Policing in the North is effective, transparent and accountable."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0964
Published Date: 14-Feb-02
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