Public confidence in and support for the police service is essential. It is the role of the Policing Board to ensure that PSNI is accountable for the delivery of an effective service to the community. The area of intelligence gathering and the handling of covert human intelligence sources is an area of police work which has provoked legitimate questions in the past. The Policing Board’s oversight of reforms in this area of PSNI work has seen significant and positive changes.
In 2002, the Policing Board commissioned a report, the Crompton Report, on this area of the PSNI's work. The Crompton Report’s recommendations, combined with the findings from two other important reports – the Blakey and Stevens 3 Reports – formed the basis for the establishment and structuring of the PSNI’s new Crime Operations Department. Implementation of the Reports’ recommendations has ensured that the procedures, processes and practices adopted by PSNI in the area of Crime Operations meet ACPO standards in policing practice.
The Policing Board continues to receive detailed briefings from the PSNI on its progress in implementing the recommendations arising from the Blakey, Stevens and Crompton reports. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has assured the Policing Board that the procedures and practices now adopted by the PSNI are in line with ACPO guidelines and practice in police forces across the United Kingdom. The Policing Board will continue to make sure that work in this important area is closely scrutinised.
Following publication of the Operation Ballast Report (January 2007), the Policing Board accepted responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations relating to PSNI. Since that time, the Board, with the assistance of its Human Rights Advisor, has scrutinised the implementation of the recommendations and progress with the Operation Ballast investigation.
The investigation has since been transferred from the Historical Enquiries Team to PSNI Crime Operations Branch and the Board has established a Special Purposes Committee to monitor what is now called Operation Stafford.
