Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP:
“In the aftermath of the disgraceful scenes in Camlough following the all-Ireland GAA final, I wrote to both the PSNI and the Ombudsman. I was advised by the Ombudsman that they would not investigate my complaint because I had not personally witnessed the incident. Now the PSNI have written to me and told me that they will not be providing updates on their investigation into the matter to me because I “did not directly witness the incident”.
“Tellingly, there is nothing in legislation to prevent the Ombudsman investigating complaints such as the one I made much less provision for the PSNI to dismiss the need to update the leader of a political party on a matter of significant public interest. Section 65 (1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 does, however, state that “Department of Justice may issue guidance to the Board and police officers concerning the discharge of their functions”.
“The Department of Justice pulled a ruse when it issued guidance entitled “Guidance on Police Misconduct, Performance and Attendance, and Complaints Procedures” which in para 4.25 states: “complaints alleging misconduct can be received only from members of the public who have had occasion to be well informed as to the facts of the incident. There is no need to record and process complaints from persons not involved in the incident. Thus, if someone views an incident on the TV or on social media, they are not personally involved”.
“This has resulted in the preposterous situation where public representatives with a significant mandate are denied the ability to use the appropriate channels to lodge official complaints which are brought to us by the public.
“It is frankly absurd and unacceptable that this situation exists and I call upon the Justice Department to rectify it immediately.”