The BBC reports on comments by Norman Baxter, former Head of Serious Crime Branch of the PSNI, appearing in front of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee as part of their continuing investigation into the handling of intelligence relating to the Omagh bombing. From the BBC report
Mr Baxter, who is also the former head of the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, said there was a policy of running down security in Northern Ireland which dates back to the 1990s. He told the Commons committee it was inspired by political thinking and he warned that, in light of the dissident threat, the government was repeating the same mistakes now. He said the situation was like the “Emperor’s New Clothes” where everyone carried on pretending everything was normal. Referring to the Omagh bombing, he said the security policy at the time was a failure.