Department of Justice

Why Alliance must pass on the Department of Justice

Brendan Heading on May 8, 2016, 8:58 pm

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The election is over, the results are in, and the signal being sent by the electorate in Northern Ireland is clear and unambiguous. The DUP’s position as the dominant party within a socially and economically conservative administration has been comprehensively re-endorsed, alongside their coalition partner, Sinn Féin. There has, fundamentally, been no change at all in the balance of power in Northern Ireland. No reasonable person could deny that the DUP victory is a remarkable accomplishment on many levels, the work …

As Secretary General for Justice goes in Dublin, IRG’s recommendations are unsuitably vague

Mick Fealty on July 29, 2014, 9:52 am

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I won’t dwell on this in detail except to say that it is unusual to see a department head in either the British or Irish civil service step aside (or pushed) on foot of a report (PDF) published into their department by the Minister. The report’s summary bullets are worth ripping, since I suspect they apply right across struggling organisations across the public and private sectors… A closed, secretive and silo driven culture. Significant leadership and management problems. Ineffective management processes and …

No, the PSNI Chief Constable hasn’t “the toughest policing job in the world”

Brian Walker on January 28, 2014, 12:34 pm

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Here we are, still sold on the idea of how exceptional we are. Comment on Mick’s post on the appointment of a chief constable failed to notice that there’s a wider world out there. It’s no longer the case that the PSNI have “the toughest policing job in in the world” and other superlatives. Try the Met which has gone through three commissioners in five years. Race issues, jihadist extremism and flash rioting in today’s human rights culture make it very tough for …

“The real horse trading [over Justice Ministry] is likely to happen between party leaders…”

Pete Baker on November 8, 2011, 9:03 pm

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And only two parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin have the necessary votes to trade… ANYhoo, as I mentioned during the Sinn Féin ard fheis when the deputy chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Justice Committee, and noted plagiarist, Raymond McCartney complained that “David Ford’s department [of Justice] is like Jurassic Park.” …if Sinn Féin aren’t happy with David Ford as Northern Ireland Justice Minister then they, and the DUP, can always find someone else to agree on… They, both parties, have to agree on someone …

“David Ford’s department is like Jurassic Park.”

Pete Baker on September 12, 2011, 8:53 pm

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Apparently, according to BBC NI’s Martina Purdy, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly, MLA, Northern Ireland Junior Minister Policing Board member, gave “a fiery speech on the Police Ombudsman” at the party’s ard fheis at the weekend. It’s not listed in the party’s collection… [Added by AlaninBelfast …] In the Irish News today, Diana Rusk says he went “off script” when telling the Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, that he “must face down the dinosaurs” in the PSNI. Being “off script” might explain why Gerry Kelly seems to have borrowed his …

“there are these enormous delays and they are holding up cases at all levels”

Pete Baker on August 24, 2011, 3:27 pm

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The BBC reports comments by senior judge, Mr Justice Hart, criticising the lack of “properly resourced” and “properly organised” forensic science facilities in Northern Ireland. From the BBC report The judge said: “There is an entirely unacceptable and unjustified and indeed gross delay on the part of the relevant authorities in dealing with the analysis of what is alleged to be in this instance cannabis. “I’m not in any way seeking to attach blame to individuals concerned, but there is …

NI Justice Minister names independent reviewer

Pete Baker on April 20, 2011, 1:51 pm

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As the BBC reports, Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Alliance Party leader David Ford, has announced that former civil servant, Tony McCusker, will conduct the independent review into allegations made against Department of Justice civil servants by Sam Pollock when he resigned as Chief Executive at the NI Police Ombudsman. Full terms of reference of review here [pdf file]. From the notes to the Minsterial statement Tony McCusker retired from the Northern Ireland Civil Service on 30 August 2005 and since then has undertaken …

NI Police Ombudsman Chief Executive resigns

Pete Baker on April 14, 2011, 6:44 pm

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The BBC’s Vincent Kearney reports that Sam Pollock, Chief Executive at the NI Police Ombudsman‘s office since the post was created ten and a half years ago, has resigned. From the BBC report Sam Pollock claims the office’s independence has been undermined by meddling from senior civil servants at the Department of Justice. In a statement, the Department of Justice said it had always respected the office’s independence. The ombudsman also strongly rejected claims the office’s independence had been undermined. Al Hutchinson …

Updated: Over £260m to be cut from policing spend over next four years – but £171m to be added

Pete Baker on December 23, 2010, 8:28 pm

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The headline figures in the draft Northern Ireland budget re-allocation indicated only relatively small changes to the current expenditure of the NI Department of Justice up to 2014/15. Three years of consecutive cuts – £10.6million in 2011/12, £24.1million in 2012/13 and £22 .3million in 213/14 – followed by a slight increase of £9.7million in 2014/15. But, as the BBC reports, the detail published today by the NI Department of Justice reveals that the police, in particular, are expected to find significant levels of “savings” in each of the …