Clause 12 - Investigations into current police practices and policies
Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Mr David Trimble (Upper Bann, UUP)
We have little time. I draw attention to amendment No. 36, the important one in this group. It makes a simple point. The police ombudsman's essential function is to inquire into abuses by the police of their powers and to protect people from such abuses. Issues relating to practice and policy generally may arise out of such cases; hence the Patten report's references to practice and policy. However, it would be contrary to the essential concept of the ombudsman if he were to inquire into practice and policy generally, because those are matters for the Policing Board. It is a question of demarcation—
It being Five o'clock, The Chairman proceeded, pursuant to Sessional Order D [29 October 2002] and the Order of the Committee [23 February 2003], to put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the business to be concluded at that time.
Question put, That clauses 12 to 16 stand part of the Bill:—
The Committee divided: Ayes 9, Noes 4.