Published date:
Responding to the publication of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate’s (CJINI) inspection of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI), Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime NI Geraldine Hanna said:
“This findings of this inspection raise worrying questions about the number of police officers under investigation for abuse of position.
“It is especially concerning that the number of officers under investigation for abuse of position for sexual purposes is the highest to date.
“This can undoubtedly damage the confidence the wider public and victims of crime in particular have in our police service.
“It is particularly worrying that OPONI identified seven alleged victims of abuse of position for sexual purposes but these cases were not referred to the Ombudsman.
“For victims to have confidence in our police and our justice system there must be robust, effective mechanisms in place to identify, investigate and address issues of misconduct.
“I support the call from CJINI for there to be a stronger connection between the Ombudsman’s office and professional standards in the PSNI and for OPONI to create a strategy for dealing with abuse of position cases.
“Once again we see delay as a serious issue in our system with the amount of time it takes OPONI to investigate cases adding to the delay victims will then face whilst the PPS make a decision whether to prosecute and the subsequent delay endured as any case then proceeds to court.
“We know that delay has a devastating impact on victims, costs money and can effect a fair justice outcome. There can sometimes however be almost an acceptance that delay is part and parcel of the process.
“However, the fact it takes, on average, nearly a year and a half, for such cases to be investigated by OPONI and sent to the PPS with a recommendation for prosecution is unacceptable and adds a considerable extra burden on victims who are already navigating through a criminal justice system rife with delay.
“The vast majority of police officers are undoubtedly hard working public servants and I welcome the comments from Deputy Chief Constable Singleton that all of the recommendations made by CJINI have been accepted and either addressed or in progress.
“However, this is an important opportunity for all agencies involved to address significant issues raised in this report including the need to address the legislative gap that needs filled to help the PSNI take swifter disciplinary action.
“I also strongly welcome the recommendation from CJINI that OPONI be added to the Victim Charter. This charter lays out the rights and services victims can expect from organisations in our criminal justice system and their current exclusion from the charter is a clear gap that should be addressed.
“A further change I would like to see, and that would give victims another opportunity for redress, is for my office to be given the power to also refer appropriate cases that come to my attention directly to the Ombudsman.
“We must remember that at the heart of these cases are victims who have potentially been harmed by those who are meant to help them. We must act swiftly to implement the changes needed to address this and give victims a criminal justice system they deserve.”