To ask the Minister of Justice to provide an update on a review of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

ORAL QUESTION No - AQO 748/22-27

ANSWER

Following my re-appointment as Justice Minister in February 24, I agreed with the previous Policing Board Chair that I (my department) would commission an independent review into the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

Since the original announcement by the Board, which was made in the immediate aftermath of the resignation of the former Chief Constable, the PSNI has had significant changes to its senior team and the Policing Board has new independent and political members, including a new Chair and vice Chair. As it was appropriate that such changes were given a reasonable period to settle in, I considered that it would not have been appropriate to rush the launch of a review.

During this period, my officials have considered carefully the scope and terms of reference for the review in the context of subsequent changes within both PSNI and the Policing Board.

I expect to finalise and agree the terms of reference for this review imminently and commit to sharing them with my Executive colleagues, the Justice Committee, the Northen Ireland Policing Board, and the PSNI.

My officials are continuing to engage with suitably qualified individuals to secure a panel to take this work forward.