NI police chief warns of 'over-regulation'

The Police Service in Northern Ireland is in danger of becoming over-regulated, the force’s Chief Constable warned today.

Hugh Orde said the level of scrutiny was in danger of becoming “dysfunctional”.

Bodies reviewing performance include the Policing Board of elected representatives and an independent ombudsman investigating complaints of alleged malpractice.

“We are the most accountable police service, probably in the world, and I have no difficulty with that,” Orde said.

“At some stage a question needs to be asked of when does oversight become dysfunctional.”

A series of agencies have been set up to monitor the police after the Patten Report of 1999 which recommended wholesale changes in the old Royal Ulster Constabulary.

New groups include the Criminal Justice Inspectorate and the Oversight Commissioner.

The senior officer was speaking at a conference in Templepatrick today which is considering justice in a changing community.

Orde added said there would be concerns if police managers spent more time reviewing official recommendations than “getting the job done”.