PSNI in 2020: Covid-19 challenges and collateral damage
By Julian O Neill
Published
image copyrightPacemaker
In the year of the Four Es , the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) largely coped with what Covid-19 threw at it, but there was collateral damage along the way.
And yet, 2020 looked to be starting on a positive note.
With Stormont s resurrection came New Decade, New Approach and the prospect of the police being unburdened, finally, from thousands of Troubles legacy cases and increasing officer numbers to 7,500.
But within months things had changed.
Recruiting in a pandemic
The government backed away from legacy legislation and there was to be no enhanced budget to pay for 600 extra officers, at least in the near future.
BBC News
By Julian O Neill
Published
A police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct after initiating a sexual relationship with a woman he knew was in a vulnerable state of mind.
A Police Ombudsman investigation found he had caused her psychological distress.
The relationship began after he called to her home in February 2019, following a report about concerns for her safety.
The woman s details were already held in the police system as someone known to be vulnerable.
When questioned, the officer later claimed to have met her through a dating app, but this was contradicted by evidence obtained from his mobile phone.
BBC News
By Julian O Neill
Published
image captionA woman confronts a soldier at Whiterock in Belfast during the Troubles
Government policy on Troubles legacy is facing investigation over a complaint that it failed to comply with legislation under the Good Friday Agreement.
The Equality Commission is set to examine whether the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) breached its duties.
The complaint was lodged by two groups, the Committee on the Administration of Justice and the Pat Finucane Centre.
Under it, the vast majority of Troubles cases would be closed by law, without new investigations - a move which is at odds with the legacy deal struck in 2014 at Stormont House.
BBC News
By Julian O Neill
Published
image copyrightCity Centre Initiative/Pacemaker
image captionDerry city centre manager Jim Roddy (left) and former Methodist Church president the Rev Harold Good are behind the talks
A second planned meeting on Troubles legacy issues hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury s office has been rescheduled, after the talks were criticised by a victims group.
Involving British and Irish government officials and others, it was due to have been held in London on Thursday.
Organisers said the move was in recognition of criticism they had received.
However, they said they were committed to continuing the dialogue.