Sinn Fein demands law change on former RUC detectives
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly, spokesperson on policing and justice has said that
the British government must change the law to empower the Police Ombudsman
to hold retired members of the RUC or PSNI fully to account for wrongdoing.
Mr
Kelly said:
"In the last few weeks, I have met with David Hanson,
NIO minister for justice and Nuala O Loan, the Police Ombudsman. I have
discussed my concerns with them both. I also raised these serious concerns
with Paul Goggins and I demanded that he close the loophole in the
legislation to ensure anyone engaged in policing can be held fully to
account.
"The case for the Police Ombudsman to be given this
power is compelling. It is made by those who have declared their intention
to try and thwart investigations by the Police Ombudsman and by those who
resign, retire or take sick leave whenever such investigations close in on
them, sometimes removing or destroying evidence of their wrongdoing in the
process. Political detectives have no future in policing and Sinn Fein is
determined to see those responsible for wrongdoing held fully to account for
their
actions." ENDS