Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘REPRISAL FEARS IF WORKING WITH PSNI’
Inspectors find some still scared to give information
SOME organisations are reluctant to work with the PSNI for “fear of reprisals from dissident elements”, a police watchdog has found.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services found police in Northern Ireland were doing a good job, particular in the context of the power-sharing vacuum.
While the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the force was commended, inspectors expressed concern that in certain areas an ongoing hesitancy to engage with officers was hampering their work.
The HMIC said there were many good examples of local neighbourhood officers working with partner organisations to resolve “long-standing, recurrent problems of crime and anti-social behaviour”.
But it added: “We also found examples where the efforts of officers to tackle problems were being hindered by the reluctance of individual members of partner organisations to be seen to be actively supporting or working with the police, for fear of reprisals from dissident groups.”
Inspectors also found uniformed of ficers often lacked support and super vision to ef fectively investigate volume crimes like burglary.
But the overall report gave the force a “good” rating.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said: “We are encouraged to find the PSNI continues to make good use of its resources in spite of continuing uncertainty around the political situation. “Since our last inspection has developed a deeper understanding of its workforce’s skills and capability and is in a strong position to meet the demands of newer threats such as human trafficking and cyber-crime.”
PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris welcomed the grading.
He added: “Independent surveys show confidence in policing is at over
90%.”
HM INSPECTOR OF CONSTABULARY
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