Policing reform 'on right track'

Tom Constantine has been overseeing policing reforms

Policing changes are moving steadily in the direction intended by the Patten Commission, the man in charge of monitoring police reform has said.

However, Tom Constantine said in his final report as oversight commissioner that a lack of significant progress on a number of recommendations was a matter of serious concern.

Mr Constantine pointed to general and substantial progress in his report released on Wednesday.

The former director of US drug enforcement and ex-chief of police for New York State has been monitoring changes in Northern Ireland policing over the past three and a half years.

The review of policing in Northern Ireland by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten was one of the key elements of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

There is good reason for optimism that all of the Patten recommendations will be fully implemented within a reasonable time frame Tom Constantine Oversight Commissioner Patten's recommendations

Mr Constantine was not happy with some aspects of policing change, saying that reforms had not moved quickly enough over some recommendations.

He said many police stations needed to be replaced immediately, and described the condition of the police training college as "deplorable".

Without naming individuals, he spoke of the need for full and complete community support for policing.

Mr Constantine also condemned the intimidation of members of the District Policing Partnerships, saying the intention of the threats and attacks was to undermine Patten's reforms.

In several previous reports, Mr Constantine had made it clear he thought proposed changes to the police special branch were not happening quickly enough.

However, he said in his final report that he had received a plan which was "evidence of a good faith effort" to meet the intentions of the Patten Report.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Constantine said the issue of special branch had been reported on at least five occasions previously.

"We were trying to secure a plan, or a roadmap, as to how the Patten recommendations would be implemented.

"On 14 November we were provided with a very detailed, well-documented report which is the plan that the police service in conjunction with the accountability to the Policing Board will implement.

"It's a good first step and it shows good faith and we feel we will measure, and my successor will measure, the milestone in that report."

He added: "This is the first bit of good news to report upon on the special branch issue."

Replacement

Mr Constantine is being replaced by Al Hutchinson as oversight commissioner.

The Canadian officer served almost 34 years in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, eventually becoming assistant commissioner.

Mr Constantine said there was "good reason for optimism that all of the Patten recommendations will be fully implemented within a reasonable time frame".

He added: "I am confident that the new commissioner and his team will continue with a rigorous programme of oversight until May 2005."

Chief Constable Hugh Orde said the Police Service of Northern Ireland would deal with outstanding issues from Mr Constantine's reports as quickly as possible.

"Creating and managing change in a large organisation like ours, while at the same time delivering a quality police service, is not easy. But we are doing it and will continue to do it," he said.

Policing Board Chairman Desmond Rea praised Mr Constantine's "professionalism and dedication to the task in hand, and his personal contribution to policing in Northern Ireland".