Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has criticised Justice Minister Naomi Long's response to the Independent Review of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, accusing her of avoiding difficult decisions and kicking the can down the road. The Minister published the Department of Justice's response to the review this week, which was commissioned in September 2024 to examine the Board's statutory functions, its oversight of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and its wider roles and working practices.

Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“The Department of Justice response to the Independent Review of the Policing Board is deeply disappointing. Of 18 recommendations, the Department accepted just five, while a further eight were "accepted in principle." The "in principle" decision is nothing more than kicking the can down the road, hoping nobody will notice.

“The review was clear that the Policing Board's function regarding injured-on-duty or ill-health retirement cases should be transferred to the PSNI. This is supported by the majority of political parties at Stormont, yet it has only been "accepted in principle" by the Minister. One of the reasons given for not fully accepting it was that "progress will depend on continued and sustained tripartite working on the issues to be considered." However, any change to the tripartite arrangements, which were described as a two-legged stool, or a parent child relationship has not been wholeheartedly accepted by the Minister.

“Many, the Ulster Unionist Party included, were concerned when the Minister announced the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Independent Review of the Policing Board. It was felt that the ToR did not address some of the difficult questions that needed addressing. Even then, the politicisation of the Board was a hot topic, and it formed the basis of one of the recommendations that was again only "accepted in principle." This is set against a backdrop where the Chief Constable of the time was being lobbied by politicians to act against serving police officers. This political interference led to the resignation of the Chief Constable and a collapse in police morale.

“I find the Department of Justice response to this Independent Review of the Policing Board totally unacceptable. It is clear the Minister does not want to take difficult decisions regarding the Policing Board, and if that is the case, she needs to step aside and let someone else take those decisions.”