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.

In a statement released last night, the PSNI said: “The chief constable [has]met with the head of the Historical Enquiries Team to discuss how the recommendations in the HMIC report should be progressed. The chief constable will now report to the dedicated working group established by the Northern Ireland Policing Board to consider the way forward.”

Mr Cox, a retired London Metropolitan Police commander, has been in charge of the HET since it was formed eight years ago. His position as director has been in doubt since the Policing Board called in PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott to examine management arrangements.