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NI Ombudsman Office given families' letters of concern | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Police Ombudsman's Office has said it has received a number of letters from victims' families following a BBC Spotlight documentary on Tuesday. | |
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. |