§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which organisations and individuals who have applied to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commisson for financial assistance to pursue a human rights issue have been refused financial assistance; and why they were refused. [HL2291]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How the work of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman in terms of quality, impartiality and public confidence is evaluated; who carries out such evaluation; and when. [HL2341]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Police Ombudsman's annual business plan published in July 2001 states that her office, "will work with the public, the police and Government in setting benchmarks and indicators for the performance of her Office as a corporate body". The ombudsman's office has suggested the following indicators as starting points:
- Percentage of complaints referred appropriately for informal resolution which leads to a satisfactory outcome in the view of the complainant.
- Percentage of complainants satisfied with how they have been dealt with by the Police
WA154 - Ombudsman, measured independently of the Police Ombudsman.
- Percentage of police officers satisfied with their treatment when under investigation by the office measured independently of the Police Ombudsman.
- Confidence of the public and the police in the police complaints system measured independently of the Police Ombudsman.
In the ombudsman's corporate statement the vision is for a police complaints service in which the police and public have confidence and the objectives refer to the building of satisfaction and establishing a robust quality assurance process. The research and policy directorate of the ombudsman's office monitors awareness and confidence in her office using survey information, and to date two surveys have been conducted with data collected through a module in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency's omnibus survey.
The ombudsman is required to make an annual report to Parliament through the Secretary of State on the discharge of the functions of her office, and the first report for the 17 months up to March 2002 is expected in June.
§ Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhat steps the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman is proposing to establish confidence in his office in Northern Ireland among both the police service and the general public. [HL2393]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Police Ombudsman has advised that her office has taken forward a number of initiatives aimed at the general public and t he Police Service of Northern Ireland and designed to establish confidence in her Office. These are:
- (a) An information leaflet giving details of how to make a complaint against the police and how complaints are dealt with.
- (b) A programme of lectures and seminars for community and voluntary groups, schools, colleges and youth organisations and academic audiences. Staff also take part in training events for PSNI recruits.
- (c) An up-to-date website containing copies of each of the ombudsman's research reports and press releases.
- (d) Actively engaging with the police in developing working arrangements and relationships underpinning the role of the office.
- (e) A corporate statement with the vision of a police complaints service in which the public and the police have confidence and with objectives referring to the building of satisfaction and establishing a robust quality assurance process.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list all those consultants and advisers who have worked for the Office of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman since its creation; what was the basis on which they were selected; and how much they were paid. [HL2394]
155WA
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Police Ombudsman advises that the advisers/consultants engaged by her office since its creation, the cost of each and their purpose are as follows:
Name of Consultant/Adviser Nature of consultancy/adviser Amount Paid £ Mediation Network for Northern Ireland Organisation development and mediation skill training for staff 8,250.00 Bond Solon Court room skills training arranged by Metropolitan Police Service 2,643.75 A V Browne Design and printwork and printing of letterheads, paper, publicity for launch office etc 102,539.48 A V Browne Design and placement of recruitment advertisements in newspapers 56,106.03 Capita Business Services Ltd. Police complaints training 1,532.21 Deloitte & Touche Advice and support in the implementation of IT systems 71,965.23 Department of Finance and Personnel-NI Statistics and Research Agency Advice and assistance in conducting surveys 7,755.00 Elite Training Services Ltd Provision of IT training 1,132.70 Johns Elliot, Solicitors Provision of legal advice 3,712.99 Knowledge Pool Provision of IT training-sole provider of training in business objects 5,346.26 Metropolitan Police Service Training in forensic science, crime scene management etc 89,200.00 Forensic agency for Northern Ireland Forensic science training, advice and the provision of a forensic science service 17,596.81 Morrow Communications Provision of media service to information officer 5,272.29 Professor M Punch Input to training programme— specialist knowledge 651.18 University of Ulster Translation services 4,908.99 Mr D Young Advice on maintenance and support of Internet/Internet site 425.00 Uppercare Communications Ltd Advice on maintenance and support of Internet/Internet site 4,292.64 The selection of advisers and consultants is in line with the ombudsman's office procurement procedures and financial delegation set by the sponsoring department—the Northern Ireland Office.
156WAThose with delegated powers to order goods and services should ensure that prices paid are fair and reasonable, and where contracts do not already exist, competitive quotations, based on the value of the order should be obtained as follows:
- Up to £500
- Quotes not required. (The procurement officer must ensure the goods or services are to the expected standard.)
- £501 to £2,000
- Quotes from at least two sources oral or written but must be recorded.
- £2,001 to £5,000
- Two written or faxed quotes.
- £5,001 to £10,000
- Three written or faxed quotes.
- £10,001 to £20,000
- Four competitive tenders in writing.
- Above £20,000
- Tendering process organised through the Central Procurement Unit.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many cases the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman has considered since the office was created; how many ombudsman's reports have been forwarded to the Secretary of State; what is their opinion of the quality of those reports; what action they have taken; and what further action they will take on these reports. [HL2395]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Police Ombudsman advises that since the creation of her office on 6 November 2000 to 31 December 2001, a total of 4,254 complaints have been received. Of these, 3,116 have been resolved and the remaining 1,138 are currently in the process of investigation.
The Police Ombudsman has forwarded a total of 14 investigation reports, as she is required to do, either under Section 61 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 or Article 20 of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints etc) Regulations 2000. The reports cover the discharge of baton rounds and personal protection weapons, deaths where there may have been police involvement, fatal road traffic accidents and other matters of public interest involving police conduct issues.
The ombudsman's reports received thus far have shown that the actions of the police were legal and within the permitted guidelines and practices in the prevailing circumstances. In those reports where recommendations have been made by the ombudsman concerning police matters, some of these have been acted upon, while others are under consideration by the Chief Constable and the Policing Board.