Publications

Proposed amendments to Police bill part vi committee stage

In general the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is concerned that the draft
legislation potentially restricts the powers of the Policing Board to the extent where it
may be unable to provide effective accountability. This could have serious ramifications
in terms of public confidence in the accountability mechanism and in the police service
itself.

We were particularly alarmed at the Secretary of State’s reference to the need to protect
the police from the risk of “vexatious, repetitive or capricious behaviour by the Board in
initiating inquiries and reports” in his speech to the House on 6th June 2000. This does
not appear to the Commission to be a positive spirit in which to enter into new
democratic accountability arrangements.

proposed-amendments-to-police-bill-part-vi-committee-stage-june-2000.doc.pdf