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Sam Pollock calls for Police Ombudsman to resign immediately NI Ombudsman Office given families' letters of concern
(about 1 hour later)
The former chief executive of the Police Ombudsman's office has called for Al Hutchinson to leave his post immediately. The Police Ombudsman's Office has said it has received a number of letters from victims' families following a BBC Spotlight documentary on Tuesday.
Sam Pollock resigned in April because he had lost confidence in the direction and independence of the office. The programme revealed details of tensions within the office which led to the resignation of former chief executive Sam Pollock.
Mr Pollock has called on the ombudsman, Al Hutchinson, to step down at once.
The letters delivered on Wednesday express concern at the office's ability to probe deaths during the Troubles.
A spokesperson for the office said this area of work had been the subject of a recent report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate and it was now reviewing relevant processes.
"The inspectorate has acknowledged that our our new approach, when fully implemented, will provide a robust model for dealing with the past," the spokesperson added.
"Meanwhile, the main body of our work, which involves dealing with more than 3000 complaints a year about modern policing, will continue as normal.
"There is a high level of public confidence in this part of our work."
'Fix it quickly'
Mr Pollock resigned in April because he had lost confidence in the direction and independence of the office.
He held his post for over 10 years.He held his post for over 10 years.
Mr Hutchinson has confirmed that he will step down next year, earlier than planned, but Mr Pollock told the BBC's Spotlight programme that he should go immediately.Mr Hutchinson has confirmed that he will step down next year, earlier than planned, but Mr Pollock told the BBC's Spotlight programme that he should go immediately.
"Until recently I had urged Mr Hutchinson to fix what was wrong and to fix it quickly," he said."Until recently I had urged Mr Hutchinson to fix what was wrong and to fix it quickly," he said.
"I'd even urged the minister to support the Police Ombudsman in ensuring that it was fixed quickly."I'd even urged the minister to support the Police Ombudsman in ensuring that it was fixed quickly.
"Now I feel let down by so much of what's happened, I would have to say on a personal level and on a professional level, I think he should resign.""Now I feel let down by so much of what's happened, I would have to say on a personal level and on a professional level, I think he should resign."
Mr Pollock announced his resignation in March, claiming the independence of the office has been lowered.Mr Pollock announced his resignation in March, claiming the independence of the office has been lowered.
In a letter explaining his decision to quit his £90,000 a year job, he claimed that there had been political interference in the work of the office, and a lowering of operational independence between it and the PSNI.In a letter explaining his decision to quit his £90,000 a year job, he claimed that there had been political interference in the work of the office, and a lowering of operational independence between it and the PSNI.
Mr Pollock's allegations led to two separate inquiries.Mr Pollock's allegations led to two separate inquiries.
'Conflict''Conflict'
He told the Spotlight programme why he felt he had to leave his job.He told the Spotlight programme why he felt he had to leave his job.
"I sensed, in the end, a dilemma, or a conflict, in terms of dealing with the whole issue of informants," said Mr Pollock."I sensed, in the end, a dilemma, or a conflict, in terms of dealing with the whole issue of informants," said Mr Pollock.
"To speak about the involvement of an informant either directly or indirectly in murder, the loss of life, some atrocities, you cannot fudge that.""To speak about the involvement of an informant either directly or indirectly in murder, the loss of life, some atrocities, you cannot fudge that."
The programme also uncovered failings in a number of investigations by the ombudsman.The programme also uncovered failings in a number of investigations by the ombudsman.
Mr Hutchinson rejected claims that his office has gone soft on the police.Mr Hutchinson rejected claims that his office has gone soft on the police.
"I can assure everybody that we do deliver independent, impartial, evidence-based reports," said Mr Hutchinson."I can assure everybody that we do deliver independent, impartial, evidence-based reports," said Mr Hutchinson.
"And whether that is perceived by the public or is not is certainly a matter of debate.""And whether that is perceived by the public or is not is certainly a matter of debate."
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the ombudsman's office said: "Following the broadcast of last night's television programme, a number of families who had made complaints to us about cases involving deaths during the Troubles left letters into our offices this morning.On Wednesday, a spokesman for the ombudsman's office said: "Following the broadcast of last night's television programme, a number of families who had made complaints to us about cases involving deaths during the Troubles left letters into our offices this morning.
"Their concerns largely go to the issue of confidence in our ability to investigate matters from the past."Their concerns largely go to the issue of confidence in our ability to investigate matters from the past.
"This area of our work was the subject of a recent report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJI) and as a result of that we are now reviewing the relevant processes."This area of our work was the subject of a recent report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJI) and as a result of that we are now reviewing the relevant processes.
"The inspectorate has acknowledged that our our new approach, when fully implemented, will provide a robust model for dealing with the past.""The inspectorate has acknowledged that our our new approach, when fully implemented, will provide a robust model for dealing with the past."
In September, a report by the CJI said the office's operational independence had been lowered, and that Mr Hutchinson had lost the trust of senior colleagues.In September, a report by the CJI said the office's operational independence had been lowered, and that Mr Hutchinson had lost the trust of senior colleagues.
Following the report's publication, Mr Hutchison announced he would be stepping down as Police Ombudsman earlier than planned, next June.Following the report's publication, Mr Hutchison announced he would be stepping down as Police Ombudsman earlier than planned, next June.
It was the third highly critical report to be published into the work of the organisation.It was the third highly critical report to be published into the work of the organisation.