1. The Police Complaints System in Northern Ireland

2. Northern Ireland  Ireland partitioned in 1921  Population 1.7m  The Troubles 1968-1998  Significant impact on policing

3. A Decade of Change  Political reform – Good Friday Agreement 1998  Police reform – Hayes Report, Patten Report  New police accountability structures (Police Ombudsman, Policing Board)  Monitoring the changes – (Office of the Oversight Commissioner)

4. The five European Convention principles for police complaint investigations:  Independence  Adequacy  Promptness  Public scrutiny  Victim Involvement

5. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland  Opened in November 2000  Civilian oversight model  Entirely independent of the PSNI  Set up to deal with all complaints about the conduct of police officers while doing their job.

6.  The Office investigates:  Complaints from the public  Referrals from the police  Historic cases  ‘Call-ins’  Recommendations are made to the Public Prosecution Service or Chief Constable  Can also recommend changes to PSNI policy

7.  Investigators able to carry out a full recorded interview with officers, and can seize police possessions and arrest officers  The Office must obtain the confidence of the public and the police  High satisfaction ratings from officers subject to the complaints process  Over 3300 complaints in 2014/15:  Failure in duty  Incivility  Oppressive behaviour

8. Why do people complain about the police?  Poor attitude  Failure of communication  Assault  Inappropriate behaviour  Failure to respond  Allegations of corrupt/criminal behaviour  Failure to investigate

9. Automatic investigations  Firearms discharge  Baton round discharge  Fatal RTC’s involving PSNI  Death in custody

10. The Effect of PONI on policing  Positive  86% of people believe PONI helps police do a good job.*  Improves policing via policy recommendations  Changes patterns of police behaviour  Allows an outlet for public dissatisfaction  Negative  Can allow police to abdicate responsibility  Cost * NISRA Omnibus Survey

11. “Probably only Northern Ireland has a truly independent complaints and investigation system. For the rest of the world the picture is much bleaker.” Baker, B. Police Practice and Research, 2013 Vol. 14, No. 2, p88-89

12. 11 Church Street BELFAST BT1 1PG www.policeombudsman.org info@policeombudsman.org