CROMPTON REPORT RECOMMENDS NEW INTELLIGENCE BRANCH
Crompton Report recommends new intelligence branch
BY EUGENE McCUSKER
A REPORT ordered after criticism over the handling of the Omagh bomb investigation has made almost a dozen recommendation's for changes to the PSNI's Special Branch.
As a result, a new intelligence branch within the Northern Ireland Police Service has been recommended in the report delivered to the Policing Board.
Dan Crompton, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, carried out the review of Special Branch structures and the way it shares information with the rest of the police.
PRIORITY
He said: "The implementation of the National Criminal Intelligence Service model at all levels should be undertaken as a priority and ideally be supported by a policing implementation plan."
The report also highlighted the fact that previous inspectorate recommendations on the special branch were not implemented.
This report was ordered after criticism earlier this year by the Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan of the investigation into the Omagh bombing.
Ms O'Loan, had especially been critical of the way information about prior warnings of an attack in Omagh were not passed on by Special Branch to the local police commander.
The report also recommends a new overseeing and co-ordinating structure for Intelligence Branch.
Mr Crompton has also highlighted a lack of implementation of previous recommendations.
He added: "That had contributed to the continuation of operational difficulties."
The report also addresses the length of service individual officers should spend working in the new Intelligence Branch.
CRITICISMS
It is said to be written in diplomatic language, but contains criticisms of past failures to properly analyse and act upon information available to special branch.
Speaking with regard to the new report, Mrs O'Loan, said: "Mr Crompton's recommendation's mirror many of those I made.
"I particularly welcome the fact that the Police Service of Northern Ireland has stated that these recommendations will help it to improve policing procedures. I believe the new systems that will result will help to ensure that valuable intelligence information is properly shared between sections of the PSNI. This will mean that investigators will be able to conduct investigations in the light of all relevant intelligence held by the Police.
"This must be a significant step forward in the battle to bring criminals to justice."
Joe Byrne, West Tyrone MLA and Policing Board member said the independent review made compelling reading and pursued radical change.
Some of its more significant features, he said, included:
-An explicit reference to the lack of implementation of previous recommendations on special branch by external bodies.
-The explicit recognition and support given to Patten and the work of the police ombudsman, particularly relevant given that the review arose from the police ombudsman's Omagh report.
-The rigour, depth and range of the proposals goes to the heart of intelligence gathering in the North.
-Fundamental recommendation on who serves and how long people serve in intelligence gathering policing.
-The decision that in future there will not be a special branch but an intel
-That the full range of national intelligence standards should be enforced within the PSNI.
-That intelligence will be shared and distributed beyond intelligence branch into local regions, local districts and local officers.
-That intelligence should be recorded on action sheets including written evaluation on the reliability on the source and the content.
-That senior police officers, outside intelligence work, should be involved in any decisions about arrests and searches.
-That intelligence work will be governed by a monitoring, managing and determining structure. And not left to a private group acting secretly.
Mr Byrne concluded: "These are far seeing fundamental features, changing of the entire structural standards systems and personnel in and around intelligence gathering."
BY EUGENE McCUSKER
A REPORT ordered after criticism over the handling of the Omagh bomb investigation has made almost a dozen recommendation's for changes to the PSNI's Special Branch.
As a result, a new intelligence branch within the Northern Ireland Police Service has been recommended in the report delivered to the Policing Board.
Dan Crompton, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, carried out the review of Special Branch structures and the way it shares information with the rest of the police.
PRIORITY
He said: "The implementation of the National Criminal Intelligence Service model at all levels should be undertaken as a priority and ideally be supported by a policing implementation plan."
The report also highlighted the fact that previous inspectorate recommendations on the special branch were not implemented.
This report was ordered after criticism earlier this year by the Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan of the investigation into the Omagh bombing.
Ms O'Loan, had especially been critical of the way information about prior warnings of an attack in Omagh were not passed on by Special Branch to the local police commander.
The report also recommends a new overseeing and co-ordinating structure for Intelligence Branch.
Mr Crompton has also highlighted a lack of implementation of previous recommendations.
He added: "That had contributed to the continuation of operational difficulties."
The report also addresses the length of service individual officers should spend working in the new Intelligence Branch.
CRITICISMS
It is said to be written in diplomatic language, but contains criticisms of past failures to properly analyse and act upon information available to special branch.
Speaking with regard to the new report, Mrs O'Loan, said: "Mr Crompton's recommendation's mirror many of those I made.
"I particularly welcome the fact that the Police Service of Northern Ireland has stated that these recommendations will help it to improve policing procedures. I believe the new systems that will result will help to ensure that valuable intelligence information is properly shared between sections of the PSNI. This will mean that investigators will be able to conduct investigations in the light of all relevant intelligence held by the Police.
"This must be a significant step forward in the battle to bring criminals to justice."
Joe Byrne, West Tyrone MLA and Policing Board member said the independent review made compelling reading and pursued radical change.
Some of its more significant features, he said, included:
-An explicit reference to the lack of implementation of previous recommendations on special branch by external bodies.
-The explicit recognition and support given to Patten and the work of the police ombudsman, particularly relevant given that the review arose from the police ombudsman's Omagh report.
-The rigour, depth and range of the proposals goes to the heart of intelligence gathering in the North.
-Fundamental recommendation on who serves and how long people serve in intelligence gathering policing.
-The decision that in future there will not be a special branch but an intel
-That the full range of national intelligence standards should be enforced within the PSNI.
-That intelligence will be shared and distributed beyond intelligence branch into local regions, local districts and local officers.
-That intelligence should be recorded on action sheets including written evaluation on the reliability on the source and the content.
-That senior police officers, outside intelligence work, should be involved in any decisions about arrests and searches.
-That intelligence work will be governed by a monitoring, managing and determining structure. And not left to a private group acting secretly.
Mr Byrne concluded: "These are far seeing fundamental features, changing of the entire structural standards systems and personnel in and around intelligence gathering."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1117
Published Date: 07-Nov-02
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