NI policing reforms 'respected'

The Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, hosts the three-day event

The success of police reform in Northern Ireland has attained international recognition, the Police Ombudsman has said.

Nuala O'Loan was speaking after attending the first day of a conference in Belfast where more than 300 policing experts are debating their experiences across the world.

The event is being hosted by the Police Ombudsman's office and is the first of its kind in Europe.

The three-day session is an opportunity for participants to discuss police accountability and issues such as the use of force, police corruption and the effectiveness of complaints.

On Wednesday, Mrs O'Loan said that during the conference there had been praise for policing changes in the province.

She said: "There was a very warm understanding of what it is we're doing, why we're trying to do it, what the context is and how our's is - like every other process - a growing process and that it will have to change and to evolve to meet the future needs.

"But there is a respect for the system which has been devised here."

Mrs O'Loan said her office had now become established and was largely trusted by the public.

"Our public surveys tell us that 86% of the community believe we are independent and 79% or so that we are impartial so I think that there must be a belief out there that things will be dealt with," she said.

"And dealing with things isn't just about convicting police officers, its about making sure they have the proper training."

The relationship between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Police Ombudsman is working Hugh Orde Chief Constable

Mrs O'Loan said her office, which employs 125 people, had received 10,000 complaints in its first three years of operation.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde also praised the new accountability structures.

Mr Orde said the Police Ombudsman's office had been a success and an internal survey had shown the majority of his officers were happy with its work.

"The relationship between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Police Ombudsman is working," he said.

"This is without doubt, in my view, a far better system than we had before."

The conference coincides with the third anniversary of the appointment of Northern Ireland's first police ombudsman.

Speakers also include Policing Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea and the head of the Metropolitan police, Sir John Stevens.

The event is being attended by police experts from Canada, South Africa and Australia as well as members of the district policing partnerships in Northern Ireland.