§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for copies of the report of the triennial review by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland to be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe report has been laid today. It reviews the working of articles 4 to 16 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 during the period 1988 to 1991.
This is the first such report from the commission, which was established in 1988. I am glad to note that in general terms it is satisfied with the statutory procedures in the order for the handling of complaints from the public against individual police officers. However, it has made nine recommendations which it considers will further enhance these procedures and, before reaching any decision on them, I intend consulting the various interested bodies. I shall report to the House further in due course.
I am grateful to the commission for the considerable effort that has been put into the preparation of the report. It has now had three years' experience of the system for handling complaints and it is only right and proper that its views backed by operational experience should be the basis for a re-examination of the procedures. The commission, by its fair and thorough handling of individual complaints, has already done much to improve the relationship between the police and the public it serves. Its triennial review is further evidence that it is concerned to ensure that the complaints system operates efficiently, effectively and impartially for all the parties involved and, most importantly, that it is seen to do so.