In full: Police chief's response

The full text of Northern Constabulary Chief Constable Ian Latimer's response to criticism over the Kevin McLeod case:

Chief Constable Ian Latimer said he will meet the McLeod family

I welcome the PCCS report and note the recommendations made by Mr Jim Martin.

In particular I welcome the commissioner's finding where he comes to the conclusion that he does not require any further review of how Mr and Mrs McLeod's complaints were handled.

It is important to note that Mr Martin was afforded all due courtesy in his review of this matter.

He was given unprecedented and timeous access to all of Northern Constabulary's files and correspondence relating to the complaints made by Mr and Mrs McLeod.

Mr Martin appears to have based the outcomes in his report on the force's actions which were taken in response to Mr Cameron's report.

It is pleasing to note that Mr Martin has accepted that the force has discharged the vast majority of the recommendations made by Mr Cameron.

In 2002 I began a complete review of how the force dealt with crime management and complaints against the police.

On behalf of the force I again offer my apology in regard to the force's failings and shortcomings in dealing with Mr and Mrs McLeod and the investigation into the tragic death of their son, Kevin

These reviews resulted in changes to force policy and procedure, which ensured the force addressed any shortcomings which had arisen as a result of dealing with the death of Kevin McLeod and the subsequent complaints raised by the family.

It is worth emphasising that HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, in recent inspections of the force, has endorsed Northern Constabulary's procedures in regard to crime management and complaints against the police as fit for purpose and our communities should be reassured by this.

Mr Martin does not feel that an adequate apology has been made to Mr and Mrs McLeod by the force.

I feel I in fact did this when I apologised to the family and expressed my professional regret publicly on 4 April, 2003, and again privately in a letter dated 3 February, 2007.

On behalf of the force I again offer my apology in regard to the force's failings and shortcomings in dealing with Mr and Mrs McLeod and the investigation into the tragic death of their son, Kevin.

I have offered to meet with the family to underline the force's apology and I have now intimated this to the family.

'Another force'

I hope that by doing this the force can rebuild its relationship with the family.

I do refute, however, the comment by Mr Martin that Northern Constabulary is in any way "institutionally arrogant", and certainly not in regard to its dealings with Mr and Mrs McLeod.

I personally instructed a review of the investigation into Kevin's death, both by officers of my own force and officers from another force.

It was also I who invited Chief Constable Cameron to review how we dealt with the complaints raised by Mr and Mrs McLeod.

I have personally written to Mr and Mrs McLeod on numerous occasions with regards to matters they have raised and continue to do so.

My staff and I have attempted to deal with Mr and Mrs McLeod with the utmost professionalism and as recently as Wednesday two of my senior officers met with the family.