POLICE REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT

The Northern Ireland Experience

Tripoli, Libya, 24 – 25 September

BROAD OBJECTIVESBrief review of Irish policing historyFocus on Northern Ireland police reformsIdentify common elements:

Key steps and processesFrequent challengesOutcomes and benefits

Elements reflected in other police reformsPotential relevance for LibyaDiscussion

Please ask questions at any time

POLICING IN IRELANDAlways affected by political identities and tensionsAssociated with foreign state controlPerceived as harsh and repressiveUnresponsive and unaccountablePartition of Ireland (1921) creates two police forces:

Northern Ireland - Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)Republic of Ireland - Garda Síochána

Policing in Northern Ireland (1921 – 1969):Increasingly politicised and contentious

POLICING THE ‘TROUBLES’Increasing terrorism from 1969 – 1998Increased role for the military in everyday policingIncreasing separation of police from the community

THE POLICE STATIONS (FORTRESSES) OF THE ‘TROUBLES’

1998 BELFAST AGREEMENTFirst significant peace effort in many yearsSupport from all parties in Northern IrelandEndorsed by common referendum (71.1% of vote)The RUC still largely Protestant (92%)Policing reform is seen as key to a lasting peaceOne outcome is the Patten Commission:

Patten Reform Report released in 1999175 sweeping recommendationsMajor change for the RUC and policing generally

REFORM STEPS AND PROCESS IBegins with public perceptions of policing:

Multiple legitimate perspectives on policingConfirms the central role of the community

Human RightsAccountability (over 30 recommendations):

Need for links to other institutionsGovernance board; complaints agency; inspectionsPrevent political interference and direction

Central function of community-based policing

REFORM STEPS AND PROCESS IIDe-Militarization and Normalization:

Joint operations with the ArmyFortified police stationsArmoured vehicles

Police Organizational Structures:ManagementCommand-and-control

Composition and RecruitmentTraining, Education and DevelopmentSymbols and culture

THE NEW POLICING VISIONPolicing is impartial and taken out of politicsThe police are clearly separated from the militaryA new name, badge and symbolsPolice represent all communitiesFocus on anti-crime operations

CRUCIAL ISSUE:OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE

Police are given extraordinary powers:Arrest, questioning, entry, seizure, detention

Essential need to minimize the risk of political influencePatten recommends that the chief of police:

No longer be operationally guided by the MinisterHave ‘operational responsibility’ for the police

Chief must be able to exercise policing responsibilitiesOnly the chief – a career police officer – has the proper:

Investigative and forensic factsOperational expertise and judgement

OVERSIGHT OF REFORMPatten recommends an independent means of

overseeing and assessing reformOversight Commission for Policing Reform (2000)Broad mandate to:

MonitorEvaluateReport on progress

Hold police to account for pace and degree of reformReport publicly three times per yearImplementation of over 82% of Patten recommendations

OFFICE OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMISSIONER

SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMESNew Police Service of Northern Ireland

Badge, uniform, symbols, equipmentReduction from 13,500 to 7,500 police officersCritical and ongoing relationships with outside actors:

Policing Board and local Policing PartnershipsPolice Ombudsman and Criminal Justice InspectorateCivil society and citizen groups

Increased proportion of Catholic police officers:From 8% in 2001 to 30% by 2011

Better criminal intelligence and operational effectivenessAn increasingly normalized policing environment

SOME CHALLENGES REMAINOngoing terrorism threat in Northern IrelandTwo distinct and divided communities remain:

Protestant – keep the union with the United KingdomCatholic – want a union with the Republic of Ireland

Annual parades and marches

ANNUAL MARCHING(RIOTING) SEASON

ANNUAL COSTS TO POLICINGMassive drain on financial and human resourcesDamaged community relations:

Continuing tension and confrontationNow with both communities

Direct impacts on police officers and morale

ANY OBSTACLES?

BARRIERS TOPOLICE REFORM

Political indecision and interferenceResistance to change at senior police levelsIncoherent planning and internal coordinationUncertainty and fear among police officersInsufficient community engagementAn over-focus on tactical police trainingLack of emphasis on organizational changesSignificant costs over the longer termA pace of change that is slow and frustrating

ELEMENTS OF POTENTIAL RELEVANCE FOR LIBYA

Police reform is part of a wider justice system changeConscious move away from military linksA focus on effective operations and community safetyOperational responsibility of the chief of policeStrong links to other justice and oversight organizations

StatutoryCommunity-based

Representative police organizations:WomenRegionsMinorities

Key elements as reflected in other reform initiatives

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A REFORM PROCESS FOR POLICE the Northern Ireland experience

INTERNAL

REVIEWEXTERNAL REVIEW

IMPLEMENTATION AND OVERSIGHT

Prepare the ground Engage public

& politicsIncentivise

Validate and legitimise

Unity of will Cohesion of forces(political) (international & national)

Recognition

Retirement package

Representation

Modernisation

Empowerment

Oversight Commission

Capability Integrity

Framework

QUESTIONS?