Northern Ireland: Publication of police surveillance report ‘wholly insufficient’ to restore public confidence

Responding to a statement by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) that it will publish its report to the Policing Board in June on the extent of its covert surveillance of journalists and lawyers, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director said:

“Publication of this report will be an important next step on the road to full disclosure.

“But by itself, this is wholly insufficient. No police force can be allowed to mark its own homework.

“In Northern Ireland, that is the job of the Policing Board. That is why Amnesty International and the Committee on the Administration of Justice are asking it to establish an inquiry under their powers under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.

“Public confidence in policing and police oversight can only be restored through full accountability for these potentially unlawful surveillance activities.”