NOTHING TO INSTIL ANY CONFIDENCE CLAIMS DOHERTY
Nothing to instil any confidence claims Doherty
COMMENTING on the report of the Policing Board, West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty said he could see nothing in the report which would instil confidence in the claims that a new beginning to policing has been arrived at.
He continued: "In fact the machinations of the Board and the convoluted recommendations it has arrived are a regressive step in making policing accountable.
"Patten specifically stated that the Ombudsman 'should exercise the right to investigate and comment on police policies and practice'. However, section 6 of the Policing Board Report now recommends that the Ombudsman's Office be unable to publicly issue any reports public without them firstly being vetted and if need be amended by other relevant parties.
"Furthermore, and contrary to one of Nuala O' Loans key recommendations, the Policing Board's Report recommends that the PSNI should still have full operational command of the Omagh investigation. Ronnie Flanagan will also have a hand picked colleague from Merseyside acting as an overseer to the investigation and the Policing Board has muddied the waters even further by proposing to appoint a senior officer as an additional overseer.
"It is no surprise therefore that Ronnie Flanagan has warmly welcomed these arrangements. His report is not rebuffed nor is his control and authority challenged."
COMMENTING on the report of the Policing Board, West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty said he could see nothing in the report which would instil confidence in the claims that a new beginning to policing has been arrived at.
He continued: "In fact the machinations of the Board and the convoluted recommendations it has arrived are a regressive step in making policing accountable.
"Patten specifically stated that the Ombudsman 'should exercise the right to investigate and comment on police policies and practice'. However, section 6 of the Policing Board Report now recommends that the Ombudsman's Office be unable to publicly issue any reports public without them firstly being vetted and if need be amended by other relevant parties.
"Furthermore, and contrary to one of Nuala O' Loans key recommendations, the Policing Board's Report recommends that the PSNI should still have full operational command of the Omagh investigation. Ronnie Flanagan will also have a hand picked colleague from Merseyside acting as an overseer to the investigation and the Policing Board has muddied the waters even further by proposing to appoint a senior officer as an additional overseer.
"It is no surprise therefore that Ronnie Flanagan has warmly welcomed these arrangements. His report is not rebuffed nor is his control and authority challenged."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0967
Published Date: 14-Feb-02
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