Motion

Review of the Police Ombudsman’s Office

Review of the Police Ombudsman’s Office
That this Assembly notes the serious and damaging investigation into the previous Police Ombudsman; acknowledges that this had a detrimental effect on the credibility of the position; accepts the operational and financial independence of the Police Ombudsman’s Office; recognises that while there are mechanisms to remove a Police Ombudsman for serious misconduct, understands that there are no mechanisms to suspend the Ombudsman while an investigation is ongoing; agrees that vexatious and false allegations made to the Police Ombudsman about a police officer’s conduct are treated as a criminal offence; calls on the Minister of Justice to commit to scoping how legislation can be changed to allow the Police Ombudsman to be suspended from position in extremis for serious misconduct as per the Venice Principles; and further calls on the Minister to commission a review on changes to the role of the Police Ombudsman’s office, allowing minor misconduct cases to be referred to the PSNI disciplinary structures without the permission of the complainant.
Private Members' Motion
08/06/2026

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