The Five Demands

Polverone sollevato dalle dimmissione del Direttore Esecutivo dell’ufficio del Police Ombudsman, Sam Pollock

Difficile non dare credibilità alle motivazioni addotte da Sam Pollock, a giustificazione delle sue dimissioni dalla carica di Direttore Esecutivo dell’ufficio del Police Ombudsman. La rinuncia di fatto ad uno stipendio annuo di 90.000 sterline.
A 24 ore dalle sue dichiarazioni, si è levato in volo un vespaio dal mondo politico.
David McNarry (UUP) e Alex Maskey (Sinn Fein) chiedono risposte.
David McNarry ha dichiarato che lo stato delle cose è “straordinario e sconvolgente”.
“Pone un grande punto di domanda sull’ufficio del difensore civico e alcuni alti funzionari del Ministero della Giustizia”.
“E’ una questione molto seria e David Ford deve rispondere se i suoi funzionari sono la ragione della dipartita di Pollock”.
“Abbiamo bisogno di sapere se si è spinto troppo in là, se le sue accuse sono fondate, se la questione può essere risolta e che cosa accadrà dopo la sua sostituzione.”
I Police Ombudsman, Al Hutchinson, ha respinto con forza le accuse di indipendenza minata del suo ufficio.
Alex Maskey ritiene necessaria una rigorosa indagine: “Abbiamo bisogno di andare a fondo di quanto accaduto…”
“Da quanto si è capito le accuse di Pollock risalgono a prima dell’istituzione del Dipartimento della Giustizia, quindi se c’è sta una qualsiasi notizia di interferenza o se c’è a minare l’indipendenza del Police Ombudsman, sarebbe totalmente inaccettabile”.

“Una delle ragioni per cui il nostro partito e le persone che rappresentiamo, supportano la polizia è l’esistenza di un organismo indipendente come il Police Ombudsman”.
“Questa indipendenza è stata fondamentale nella progettazione del nostro futuro e la necessità per il mantenimento dei poteri di polizia e giustizia all’interno della nostra comunità”.
In un comunicato il Dipartimento di Giustizia, ha asserito che se fossero state presentate prove di comportamento improprio da parte di un qualsiasi funzionario, sarebbe state completamente esaminate. Ma nulla è mai stato presentato.

Politicians call for Ombudsman’s office investigation (BBC News Northern Ireland)
Politicians have called for a full investigation into the allegations made by the chief executive of the Police Ombudsman office.
Sam Pollock resigned from his £90,000 a year job after claiming the office’s independence has been undermined by meddling from senior civil servants.
The Department of Justice said it respected the office’s independence.
Ulster Unionist David McNarry and Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey both said questions needed answering.
David McNarry said it was an “extraordinary and shocking state of affairs”.
“This has left a large question mark over the ombudsman’s office and a number of senior officials at the Department of Justice,” he said.
“It is a very serious matter and David Ford needs to answer whether his officials are the reason for Mr Pollock’s departure.
“We need to find out if he has been pushed to far, whether his allegations are founded, can the matter be resolved and what will happen with his replacement.”
The ombudsman, Al Hutchinson, has strongly rejected claims the office’s independence had been undermined.
Mr Hutchinson said the independence of the ombudsman was “guaranteed by law” and he could confirm that “independence is both real and practical, as demonstrated by our reports”.
“If it were otherwise, I would say so,” he added.
Alex Maskey said a rigourous investigation was needed: “We need to get to the bottom of this.”.
“As I understand Mr Pollock’s allegations go back to before the Department of Justice was established so if there has been any notion of interference or if there is any undermining of the ombudsman’s independence it will be totally unacceptable.
“One of the reasons our party and the people we represent were able to endorse and support policing was that there was an independent body like the ombudsman.
“This independence was key to the architecture of our future and the need for policing and justice to keep across our communities.
“Any shaking of that confidence could be disastrous”.
In a statement the Department of Justice said that proper arrangements were in place to meet the accountability arrangements for public money.
It said if there was evidence to suggest any official had behaved improperly that would be looked into fully, but no such evidence had been presented.
Mr Pollock alleges he was subjected to malicious personal attacks after raising his concerns.
He has been chief executive since the office opened ten-and-a-half years ago.
Mr Pollock is leaving the post at the end of August.
Mr Pollock has a long and distinguished career within the criminal justice system, stretching back more than 40 years. That service was rewarded with an OBE in 2005.