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| CAJ says police ombudsman office 'not fit for purpose' | CAJ says police ombudsman office 'not fit for purpose' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The police ombudsman office is not "fit for purpose", according to an independent human rights group. | The police ombudsman office is not "fit for purpose", according to an independent human rights group. |
| A Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) report has questioned the ombudsman's independence from police and the Northern Ireland Office. | A Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) report has questioned the ombudsman's independence from police and the Northern Ireland Office. |
| It has also raised concerns about the recruitment process, which led to Al Hutchinson getting the post in 2007. | It has also raised concerns about the recruitment process, which led to Al Hutchinson getting the post in 2007. |
| However, the Police Ombudsman's Office has countered that the CAJ view is not balanced. | |
| CAJ Director Mike Ritchie claimed it had "discovered irregularities in the appointment process". | |
| "In total, what we are saying is there are serious questions about the operation," he said. | |
| "There are recommendations that need to be addressed. Whether it is him who addresses them or someone else is not our call." | "There are recommendations that need to be addressed. Whether it is him who addresses them or someone else is not our call." |
| He said the report was not a personal attack on Mr Hutchinson and he was not calling for his resignation. | |
| "But what we are saying is there are eight fairly serious recommendations and we would like to see movement on all of them," said Mr Ritchie. | "But what we are saying is there are eight fairly serious recommendations and we would like to see movement on all of them," said Mr Ritchie. |
| The report, released on Thursday, is highly critical of the way the ombudsman office operates. | The report, released on Thursday, is highly critical of the way the ombudsman office operates. |
| It has accused the office of failing to hold police to account for historic cases from the Troubles and criticises the length of time it takes to investigate cases. | It has accused the office of failing to hold police to account for historic cases from the Troubles and criticises the length of time it takes to investigate cases. |
| However, in a statement, the police ombusdsman office said: "It is clear that the report does not include a balanced view of the issues surrounding the investigation of historical matters, nor reflect the structural changes implemented to allow the office to deal with the doubling of historic cases in the past three years." | |
| The office said issues relating to the appointment process, salary and benefits, and security vetting, were for the Northern Ireland Office or Department of Justice. | |
| The CAJ review into independence of the office began last August after concerns were raised by families of victims of the Troubles. | The CAJ review into independence of the office began last August after concerns were raised by families of victims of the Troubles. |
| Mr Hutchinson is already facing two investigations into allegations that the independence of his office has been compromised. | Mr Hutchinson is already facing two investigations into allegations that the independence of his office has been compromised. |