Policing Board to discuss 'catalogue of serious allegations' against PSNI officers

Martina Anderson

Foyle Sinn Féin MLA and Policing Board member Martina Anderson said that the Policing Board’s Human Rights Committee was meeting this week to consider what can only be described as a catalogue of serious allegations against a number of police officers.
Speaking ahead of the meeting on Wednesday Anderson said:
“Some of these allegations involve charges of child abuse, possession of child pornography, perverting the course of justice, drink driving, fraud and perjury. Others have been the subject of criminal judicial proceedings and investigation by the office of the Ombudsman.
“The committee will examine in a robust fashion all of these cases to establish the nature of these activities and what sanctions, if any, have been imposed on PSNI members who have broken the law or breached police discipline.
“The message must go out that this type of activity carried out by police officers will not be tolerated.
“I will be seeking reports from both the PPS and Ombudsman on a number of cases which have given rise to serious concerns.
“The PSNI must put itself beyond reproach if it is to win public confidence and the Policing Board must not be found wanting in dealing with these difficult matters on behalf of the public and indeed those police officers who wish only to provide a first class police service.”