Northern Ireland Policing Board Chair Doug Garrett has welcomed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Police Ombudsman’s Office and the PSNI.
“This is a positive step in respect of the disclosure arrangements for material from PSNI to PONI and provides clear parameters for both organisations to work within, particularly in respect of sensitive information.
The MOU, with its underpinning principles and protocols, will improve information sharing between the PSNI and Police Ombudsman’s Office and it is welcome that the Chief Constable and the Police Ombudsman have worked collectively over the last number of months to address issues identified around systems and processes.
As the body responsible for the independent investigation of complaints against the PSNI, it is essential that investigators have access to material to allow the Police Ombudsman’s Office to do its job. This is not only fundamental to our police accountability structures, but also to maintaining and building public confidence in the work of the Ombudsman and the PSNI.”