Ombudsman concerned by MI5 move

Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan says her office must have access to intelligence material.

The Police Ombudsman has said she is concerned about the transfer to MI5 of responsibility for intelligence gathering on national security matters.

Nuala O'Loan outlined her concerns in her annual report, which was presented to parliament on Wednesday.

MI5 will take over responsibility for national security issues next summer.

The Ombudsman's office can access all relevant information when investigating complaints against the police - but MI5 does not have to co-operate with it.

In her report, Mrs O'Loan said it is vitally important that her office has the ability to access intelligence material.

The Ombudsman said she was in discussions with MI5 and attempting to reach an agreement to get access to material.

But she added that it would be better if there was legislation which compelled the security services to disclose that information.

The report also reveals that the Ombudsman received more than 3,100 complaints against the police last year - an increase of 8%. The majority of complaints came from Protestants.

She recommended that nine officers should be prosecuted and that 66 should face disciplinary action.

'Dangers'

The SDLP's Alex Attwood said he shared the Ombudsman's concerns.

"The SDLP argued first and strongest that MI5 primacy in the north was full of dangers," he said.

"This matter is too big for the British government to get so wrong."

Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said the British government needed to take notice of Mrs O'Loan's fears.

"It is unacceptable that an organisation which has set itself against policing and political change throughout the course of this process should be given an expanded role," he said.

"The role of the securocrats within both the Special Branch and MI5 needs to be reduced and ended, not supported and expanded."