asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 June (WA 60), whether there is a direct line of accountability that applies to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; if so, what that line of accountability is; and who has access to the deliberations or conclusions of those involved in the accountability process. [HL4660]
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Members of Parliament are free to question and hold to account the actions of any public office through the normal parliamentary process. Through this process, Members of Parliament and the wider public have access to the deliberations and conclusions of those involved in the accountability process.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many serving police officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been waiting (a) more than a year; (b) more than two years; (c) more than three years; and (d) more than five years to have disciplinary charges against them resolved. [HL4661]
The Chief Constable has advised that two police officers have been waiting for over two years to have disciplinary charges against them resolved. No officers have been waiting longer than this. No officers, other than these two, have been waiting longer than one year.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 20 December 2004 (WA 112-3), whether all court and disciplinary issues relating to an incident involving Royal Ulster Constabulary Constable Trevor Purcell during a riot on 13 July 2001 have been resolved; and when they expect proceedings in this matter to be concluded. [HL4692]
I am advised by the Chief Constable that, following the dismissal of court proceedings against Constable Purcell on 29 November 2004, misconduct proceedings were instigated against the constable by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). However, following legal submissions, the hearing was adjourned on 14 March 2006 and a judicial review called by the constable's defence. That judicial review was concluded on 31 May 2007 in favour of the PSNI. It is intended that, when the PSNI professional standards department receives an official record of the judicial review finding, the disciplinary hearing will be relisted.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why access has been denied to Lord Maginnis of Drumglass by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, or senior officers under his command, to the disciplinary hearing involving Constable Trevor Purcell; and whether disciplinary hearings preclude all non-legal representation or observation. [HL4693]
These are matters to be dealt with by the Chief Constable. However, Regulations 25 and 26 of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Conduct) Regulations 2000, which govern attendance at police disciplinary hearings, state that a disciplinary hearing shall be held in private. In circumstances of a complaint, the complainant is allowed to attend and, at the discretion of the presiding officer, may be accompanied by a friend or relative. Also, under certain circumstances, it is within the discretion of the presiding officer to allow others to attend such hearings subject to the consent of all parties to the hearing.