Justice Minister has published the Department's
response to the Independent Review of the Northern Ireland
Policing Board.
The Independent Review, commissioned by the Minister in September
2024, examined the Board's statutory functions and the extent to
which it holds the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to
account, alongside its wider roles, responsibilities and working
practices.
It was carried out by , former Permanent Secretary
in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Dr John Topping, senior
lecturer in Criminology at Queen's University Belfast acted as
the Independent Expert Advisor to inform the review process and
outcomes. The Independent Reviewer engaged with more than 70
stakeholders including statutory bodies and other parties of
interest.
The Minister said: “I want to place on record my sincere thanks
to and Dr John Topping for the
thoroughness, professionalism and clarity they brought to this
work. They engaged widely, listened carefully and have produced a
thoughtful and balanced report that makes a constructive
contribution to the future of policing governance in Northern
Ireland.
“The Review confirms strong support for the continuation of the
Board in its current statutory form. It does not recommend
structural reform. Instead, it identifies practical measures to
enhance the Board's effectiveness and standing, clarify roles,
strengthen strategic focus and reinforce good governance.
“In considering the recommendations, I have been guided by a
number of principles: respect for independence and the need for
proportionality in the current fiscal context. Not every
recommendation will require legislative change or new structures;
in many cases, improvement can, and should, be delivered within
the existing framework.
“Accordingly, I have adopted a proportionate approach to
implementation. A number of recommendations have been
accepted, or accepted in principle, and will be progressed by the
Board and the PSNI as appropriate.”
The Minister concluded: “This year marks the 25th anniversary of
both the Policing Board and the Police Service of Northern
Ireland. They have played a vital role in embedding policing by
consent and strengthening public confidence across our
communities. It is right, therefore, that we take time to reflect
on how those arrangements are working today and how they can
continue to evolve.”
The report and the Department's response can be found at
the publication section of
the DoJ website: Independent review of the
Northern Ireland Policing Board Report | Department of
Justice
Notes to editors:
- On 12 September 2024 the Justice Minister commissioned the
independent review of the Policing Board and appointed Mr
, former Permanent Secretary
in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Dr John Topping,
senior lecturer of Criminology at Queens University Belfast to
take the review forward.
- The terms of reference for the review is available on
the news section of our
website.
