Northern Ireland Policing Board: Difference between revisions

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			{{Short description\|Police Authority in Northern Ireland}}
	The '''Northern Ireland Policing Board''' is the ] for ], charged with supervising the activities of the ]. It is composed of members of the ], and independent members, all of whom are chosen by the ].
			{{EngvarB\|date=October 2013}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2021}}
			{{Infobox organization
			\| name = Northern Ireland Policing Board
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			\| logo = Northern Ireland Policing Board logo.svg
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			\| formation = 4 November 2001
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			\| headquarters = Waterside Tower <br> 31 Clarendon Road <br> ] <br> BT1 3BG
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			\| website = {{Official URL}}
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			The '''Northern Ireland Policing Board''' ({{langx\|ga\|Bord Póilíneachta Thuaisceart Éireann}},<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/index/languages/irish.htm \|title=Northern Ireland Policing Board website: Irish version \|access-date=5 July 2012 \|archive-date=28 July 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728181701/http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/index/languages/irish.htm \|url-status=live }}</ref> ]: ''Norlin Airlan Polisin Boord'') is the ] for ], charged with supervising the activities of the ] (PSNI). It is a ] composed of members of the ] and independent citizens who are appointed by the ] using the ] for public appointments.

			==History==
	Although it is entitled to nominate members, the board is being boycotted by the second-largest party in the region, ], as it claims that the recommendations of the ] have not yet been implemented in full.
			The board is not the first police oversight body in the history of Northern Ireland. It was established on 4 November 2001 pursuant to the ], as the direct successor of the ], which oversaw the ]. Appointments were made by the ] prior to the devolution of policing and justice.

			When the Assembly was suspended in October 2002, the first board's members were re-appointed as independents by the Secretary of State to enable it to continue its work (despite most being political representatives). The Policing Board was reconstituted on 1 April 2006, 22 May 2007 and again on 24 May 2011.
	At a public meeting in north ] in the summer of 2005, ] chairman ] estimated that 80% of the recommendations have been implemented, although a ] diplomat speaking recently at a public meeting in ] admitted it was as low as two-thirds. Sinn Féin also claims that the board has no real control over the police, as it can make recommendations, yet it cannot enforce them. In ], the ] envoy to Northern Ireland, ], accused Sinn Féin of "posturing" over the issue.

			The third reconstitution of the board in 2007 was historic as ] took up its seats on the Policing Board following the party's decision to support 'civic policing' by the PSNI at its ] on 28 January 2007. Sinn Féin was associated in the past with the ] (PIRA), which killed 271 ] officers and 12 police officers outside Northern Ireland during ], and had refused to recognise the legal authority of the RUC or PSNI until that point.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Sutton\|first=Malcolm\|title=Organisation by Status\|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/cgi-bin/tab2.pl\|work=An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland (revised and updated)\|publisher=University of Ulster\|accessdate=24 October 2011\|archive-date=7 September 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907234718/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/cgi-bin/tab2.pl\|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Hardline ], particularly members of the ] have hotly disputed Sinn Féin's right to appoint members to the Police Authority because of its alleged links with the ]. ] member ] was reported as threatening to resign from the board if moves were made in order to make the board more acceptable to Sinn Féin. Recently, the ] has announced that the DUP will be allowed a greater share of nominees (in line with its increased share of votes), to the chagrin of the other parties on the board.

			On 7 February 2008, the Policing Board decided to appoint a panel of independent experts to re-review the police investigation of the ]. Some of the relatives of the bombing victims criticised the decision, saying that an international public inquiry covering both the ] and ] should be established instead. The review was to determine whether enough evidence existed for further prosecutions. It would also investigate the possible ] of two police witnesses made during the trial of suspect Sean Hoey.<ref name="inquiry"> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209000439/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7233834.stm \|date=9 February 2008 }}. ]. Published 7 February 2008.</ref>
	==Members==
			] Policing Board member ] stated that his party fully supported the families' right to call for a "full cross-border independent inquiry" while the Policing Board had a "clear and legal obligation to scrutinise the police handling of the investigations." He also stated: "We recognise that the board has a major responsibility in carrying out our duty in holding the PSNI to account in the interests of justice for the Omagh families."<ref name="meeting"> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209234245/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3410920.ece \|date=9 February 2008 }}. '']''. Published 7 February 2008.</ref>
	*] (])
	*] (SDLP)
	*] (UUP)
	*] (Independant)
	*] (])
	*] (Vice Chairman, Independent)
	*] (DUP)
	*] (SDLP)
	*] (UUP)
	*] (independent)
	*] (independent)
	*] (independent)
	*] (DUP)
	*] (Independant, Chair of ]
	*] (Independant)
	*Sir ] (Chairman, independent)
	*] (Independent, UUP member)
	*] (independent)
	*] (DUP)

			On 22 November 2009, a 400lb car bomb was driven to the Policing Board building in Belfast. It partially exploded but no one was hurt. Republican dissidents tried to ambush policemen on the same day.<ref> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926153429/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ \|date=26 September 2021 }} ''The Times'', 23 November 2009.</ref> The incident was one of several cross-border attacks carried out by hardline republicans in 2009–2010; others included the ].<ref name=OKeefe> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329054440/http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gardai-say-dissidents-no-threat-to-britain-131145.html \|date=29 March 2012 }} Cormac O'Keeffe, 18 September 2010, Irish Examiner.</ref>
	==External link==
	*

			==Composition==
	]]
			According to the department, the appointment of all independent members is made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires that the political activity of appointees be published, for accountability.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Justice Minister appoints new Policing Board\|url=http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-archive/may_2011/justice_minister_appoints_new_policing_board.htm\|publisher=Department of Justice\|accessdate=22 May 2012\|date=24 May 2011\|archive-date=24 April 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424095529/http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-archive/may_2011/justice_minister_appoints_new_policing_board.htm\|url-status=live}}</ref>

			The practice of appointing 'independent' members, who were also full members of political parties, was also common across the district policing partnerships organised by the Policing Board, thus reducing the number of places available for members of the public with no political connections.
	]

			===Current members===
			<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2015-10-13 \|title=About the Board \|url=https://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/about-board \|access-date=2023-08-22 \|website=Northern Ireland Policing Board \|language=en}}</ref>

			'''Democratic Unionist Party'''
			*] MLA
			*] MLA
			*] MLA

			'''Sinn Féin'''
			*] MLA
			*] MLA
			*] MLA
			'''Alliance Party of Northern Ireland'''
			*] MLA
			*] MLA

			'''Ulster Unionist Party'''
			*] MLA

			'''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''
			*] MLA

			'''Independent'''

			*Marian Cree
			*Patrick Nelson
			*Les Allamby
			*Tommy O'Reilly
			*Dr Kate Laverty
			*Frank McManus
			*Brendan Mullan (Vice Chair)
			*Peter Osborne
			*Mukesh Sharma (Chair)

			==See also==
			*]

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

			== External links ==
			* {{Official website}}

			{{Authority control}}

			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 18:04, 23 December 2024

Police Authority in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Policing Board

Formation	4 November 2001
Headquarters	Waterside Tower 31 Clarendon Road Belfast BT1 3BG
Website	www.nipolicingboard.org.uk

The Northern Ireland Policing Board (Irish: Bord Póilíneachta Thuaisceart Éireann, Ulster-Scots: Norlin Airlan Polisin Boord) is the police authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). It is a non-departmental public body composed of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and independent citizens who are appointed by the Minister of Justice using the Nolan principles for public appointments.

History

The board is not the first police oversight body in the history of Northern Ireland. It was established on 4 November 2001 pursuant to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, as the direct successor of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, which oversaw the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Appointments were made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland prior to the devolution of policing and justice.

When the Assembly was suspended in October 2002, the first board's members were re-appointed as independents by the Secretary of State to enable it to continue its work (despite most being political representatives). The Policing Board was reconstituted on 1 April 2006, 22 May 2007 and again on 24 May 2011.

The third reconstitution of the board in 2007 was historic as Sinn Féin took up its seats on the Policing Board following the party's decision to support 'civic policing' by the PSNI at its ardfheis on 28 January 2007. Sinn Féin was associated in the past with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), which killed 271 Royal Ulster Constabulary officers and 12 police officers outside Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and had refused to recognise the legal authority of the RUC or PSNI until that point.

On 7 February 2008, the Policing Board decided to appoint a panel of independent experts to re-review the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. Some of the relatives of the bombing victims criticised the decision, saying that an international public inquiry covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland should be established instead. The review was to determine whether enough evidence existed for further prosecutions. It would also investigate the possible perjury of two police witnesses made during the trial of suspect Sean Hoey. Sinn Féin Policing Board member Alex Maskey stated that his party fully supported the families' right to call for a "full cross-border independent inquiry" while the Policing Board had a "clear and legal obligation to scrutinise the police handling of the investigations." He also stated: "We recognise that the board has a major responsibility in carrying out our duty in holding the PSNI to account in the interests of justice for the Omagh families."

On 22 November 2009, a 400lb car bomb was driven to the Policing Board building in Belfast. It partially exploded but no one was hurt. Republican dissidents tried to ambush policemen on the same day. The incident was one of several cross-border attacks carried out by hardline republicans in 2009–2010; others included the 2010 Newry car bombing.

Composition

According to the department, the appointment of all independent members is made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires that the political activity of appointees be published, for accountability.

The practice of appointing 'independent' members, who were also full members of political parties, was also common across the district policing partnerships organised by the Policing Board, thus reducing the number of places available for members of the public with no political connections.