Process and governance arrangements within the PSNI if choosing not to accept recommendations from external oversight bodies

Upon receipt of a recommendation specific to PSNI, Planning & Governance take the following action:

1. The report and recommendations are sent to Head of Department(s) for consideration.
2. If a Head of Department decides not to accept the recommendation then he/she is required to provide a rationale to support this decision.
3. This rationale, along with the recommendation, is taken to Service Performance Board for final decision by the Deputy Chief Constable.
4. The process for informing the relevant oversight body of the rationale of non-acceptance has been formalised since the inception of the new Service Performance Board, which commenced in January 2019.  In previous years this system operated in a less structured manner and the Deputy Chief Constable has subsequently directed that the relevant oversight body will be fully informed of the rationale for such non-acceptance, in writing by the appropriate Head of Department.

The total number of recommendations received since the establishment of Overview in 2008 is 5,430.  Of this total there has been 330 recommendations rejected which is 6% of the full number received. Not all of the rejected recommendations refer specifically to PSNI.

OPONI recommendations are slightly different in that the Discipline Office contacts the Head of Department directly and provides Planning and Governance with the necessary detail for Overview.