Nine police officers face Covid breach sanctions
None fined, but force won’t rule out internal misconduct probes
NINE PSNI officers have been sanctioned for breaches of Covid-19 regulations, the PSNI has revealed.
None of the officers has faced a court over the breaches, and none have been fined.
However, the force has not ruled out internal misconduct investigations.
One officer has received a COV2 Prohibition Notice and a Community Resolution Notice and one further officer has received a Community Resolution Notice. Seven officers “received engagement” by local police.
According to the PSNI’S website, a COV2 prohibition notice ”in effect amounts to a ‘warning’ for the purposes of stopping a person from continuing to breach the regulations.”
They may be issued to commercial premises, or to private dwellings, usually in relation to restricting the number of people gathering inside.
A Community Resolution Notice does not involve a fine, but is “just a warning”, the PSNI website explains.
These sanctions are at the lowest end of the possible penalties for breach of Covid-19 restrictions. Fixed penalties start at £200, and can run to thousands of pounds.
Superintendent Claire Mcguigan from the PSNI’S Professional Standards Branch said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland expect all our officers to behave ethically and with the utmost integrity at all times both on and off duty.
“We expect the highest standards of professionalism, as do members of the public.
“It is for this reason that our Professional Standards Branch review all incidents where an officer has breached the Covid regulations and officers may be subject to internal misconduct investigation.
“We expect everyone to take personal responsibility to follow the government guidance to help suppress the transmission of this virus so it is disappointing that any officer has had to be given a notice for breach of the health protection regulations.
“We will fully investigate any report made to us of any officer who fails to abide by the high standards of behaviour and professionalism expected as laid out in our Code of Ethics”
A spokesperson for the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said: “There is an onus and responsibility on all officers to adhere to the regulations.
“The PSNI is charged with enforcing the lockdown regulations and any breach by an officer serves to make that task more onerous.
“In this case, ‘engagement’ means advice without sanction which means the issue was minor. That said, officers must realise that their behaviour is under intense scrutiny where they are expected to lead by example for the sake of their colleagues and the greater good.”
Alliance MLA John Blair, who sits on the Policing Board, said: “The public, understandably, expect police officers to set a good example and follow the law.
“This shows nobody is exempt from the regulations implemented in the interests of public health.”
Policing Board colleague Dolores Kelly of the SDLP said that while the numbers were small in proportion, the breaches of regulations were “regrettable”.