Chief of Troubles-related special unit under fire

The Northern Ireland Policing Board is to be briefed on a crunch meeting between the PSNI chief constable and the head of a special unit set up to investigate unsolved Troubles-related murders.

The meeting was convened amid calls for Dave Cox, chairman of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), to step down after a damning report claimed investigators had adopted a differential approach to state killings.

The critical review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) alleged the HET was not rigorous enough when questioning members of the security forces; was inconsistent; had serious shortcomings; and risked losing the confidence of victims’ families.