DOCSLIB.ORG

NIO51994 Report Text V5

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NIO51994 Report Text V5 PATTEN REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS 69 AND 70 RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER EQUIPMENT A RESEARCH PROGRAMME INTO ALTERNATIVE POLICING APPROACHES TOWARDS THE MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICT THIS IS THE FOURTH REPORT PREPARED BY THE STEERING GROUP LED BY THE NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF POLICE OFFICERS JANUARY 2004 CONTENTS Foreword by Jane Kennedy 1 Introduction Page number A. The background to the fourth report, including the consultation process now envisaged based on the statement of 9 April 2003 1 B. Feedback on the phase 3 report 2 C. An overview of this report and critical issues for consideration 4 D. The work of the Steering Group 5 2 Programme to find a replacement for the current baton round Dstl Programme on the Development of Less Lethal Technologies A. Introduction 11 B. Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP) and Discriminating Irritant Projectile (DIP) operational requirements 11 C. Effectiveness Criteria 18 D. AEP and DIP Programme 19 E. Programme timescales 25 3 Commercial off the shelf product evaluations and update 12 Gauge Sock Round Assessment 27 4 The Management of Conflict Nothing happened? Extracts from an independent report on public disorder in Northern Ireland in Summer 2003 35 5 The International Context A. The International Law Enforcement Forum 47 B. Use of Less Lethal Technologies in the International Context 48 6 Water Cannon The introduction of new Water Cannon to the Police Service of Northern Ireland 51 7 UK use of less lethal technologies A. L21A1 Baton Rounds 61 B. The introduction of CS sprays to the Police Service of Northern Ireland 64 C. Operational Trial of Taser in England and Wales (including ACPO policy documents) 67 8 Independent Review and Accountability A. Introduction 113 B. Revised ACPO guidance on the use of the L21A1 round 113 C. Statement on the ricochet potential of the L21A1 baton round 119 D. Reports by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on the use of L21A1 baton rounds 121 E. Second report to the Defence Scientific Advisory Council Sub-Committee 124 9 Category B Technologies - Calmatives and Malodorants 125 Glossary of Terms 134 FOREWORD BY THE RT HON JANE KENNEDY, MINISTER OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND In December 2002, the Steering Group produced a full report on the third phase of the research programme. In line with the Patten report (recommendations 69 & 70) the programme was set up to: - establish whether an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the baton round is available; and - review the public order equipment which is presently available or could be developed in order to expand the range of tactical options available to operational commanders. Subsequently on 9 April 2003 I issued a statement on the use of baton rounds in Northern Ireland which contained the following paragraph: “On the basis that an acceptable and effective and less lethal alternative is available, the baton round would no longer be used after the end of 2003. In the event that that has not been achieved, the Government would report on the progress of the fourth phase of the research programme and review the options for less lethal alternatives, consulting widely with a range of interested parties including the Chief Constable and the Policing Board". Since then, the work has continued apace. I know that directly from my own involvement with the work. I am grateful to the Steering Group, and to the many contributors to the programme, including those in government service, the police, academics and other experts, for their sustained commitment. This programme has also been more detailed and wide-ranging than any other. Despite a protracted and international search for a commercially available product, we have been unable to find anything that meets the criteria of an acceptable, potentially less lethal alternative to the baton round currently in service which provides an effective capability that does not expose officers and the public to greater risk in violent public disorder. Government will continue to monitor all new and emerging commercial products and keep technological research under review. It will ensure that those systems appearing to have real potential are tested and medically evaluated if appropriate. This report thus contains for example a full account of the assessment of the 12 gauge sock round as against the existing L21A1 baton round (chapter 3). The Government has no intrinsic desire to run a programme itself to design and develop alternatives, if products or systems that meet the effectiveness criteria are made available on the market place. I regret that the position in that regard remains broadly as last year i.e. no commercial product in our judgement satisfies the safety, acceptability and effectiveness tests. This report references the work of the Steering Group in conjunction with academics, medical experts and police services in North America and elsewhere. I am particularly interested in the work of the transatlantic teams looking at the scope for harmonising operational requirements and common approaches to testing and understanding medical outcomes. These contacts are intended in part, from our perspective at least, to lead towards a situation where manufacturers are clearer on the characteristics that will be sought in future systems and products. Members of the Steering Group believe it may represent a significant step forward in creating a broader suite of acceptable, alternative less potentially lethal systems. It is against this background that Government has concluded that it would be right to continue with the development of the Attenuating Energy and Discriminating Irritant Projectiles (AEP and DIP) mentioned in the last report which it believes represent the best opportunity to get an alternative to the L21A1 round into service as rapidly as possible. The progress made in the development of the AEP and the DIP is set out fully in the report (chapter 2). In addition to the technical programme, presentations to a number of interested bodies have included a description of their potential. It may be beneficial to summarise that here. Research into an attenuating energy projectile is in part a consequence of the independent medical evaluation of the L21A1 baton round that was published in April 2001. It is, put simply, a programme to develop a successor to the current baton round that would prove significantly safer should it strike the most vulnerable part of the body i.e. the head, while retaining its overall effectiveness. As the report brings out, the AEP would be discharged from the existing launch platform, and would be designed to have the same trajectory and other characteristics as the present round. This has several advantages – in particular it directly addresses safety issues, while keeping the development phase to a minimum. While there remain challenges, the projected timetable would make this projectile available by the end of 2004, ready for full operational use before summer 2005. However that is not the end of the story. In the meantime work is continuing on the second new projectile. This is based not on kinetic energy effects but on an irritant that would be delivered to a violent individual’s upper body. There are several commercial products that already operate on this basis and one used by some police services in North America and Western Europe, but we have been unable to identify any that meet our accuracy and safety criteria. The development of the DIP,as a new system, is inevitably a longer term project. It is by no means certain that it can be successfully achieved, although the signs are positive thus far. It will also require substantial continuing financial investment, and I am grateful to the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence for their contributions to the work. We believe that this combined programme has the potential to provide an acceptable, effective and less lethal alternative to the current, L21A1 baton round, which is in itself a safer and much more consistent round than the L5A7 Plastic Baton Round in use when the Patten Commission reported. As undertaken in the statement of 9 April, we will consult widely with a range of interested parties including the Chief Constable and the Policing Board. A major one day conference will be held in London on 5 February 2004 in support of this consultation process. Attendance at this conference is by prior arrangement only. I turn now to other elements in this important report. The human rights and acceptability issues set out at length in the phase 2 and 3 reports1 are still fundamental. The importance of understanding the underlying reasons for public disorder is re-emphasised in this report through the synopsis of the independent research into crowd dynamics in the summer of 2003 in Northern Ireland. The report also updates the public on the related developments over the past year, including water cannon. It brings out that no baton rounds have been fired at all in Northern Ireland since September 2002, although there have been a number of discharges in Great Britain. Resort to the L21A1 in those circumstances obviated the need to use higher levels of force, saved lives and did not result in serious or life threatening injuries being caused to the person struck by the baton round. This phase 4 report, like the previous three, is available on the Northern Ireland Office website (www.nio.gov.uk). Government Ministers and the Steering Group are committed to putting a wide range of information into the public domain. 1 “Patten Report recommendations 69 and 70 relating to public order equipment – A Research Programme into Alternative Policing Approaches Towards the Management of Conflict”. Phase 2 and 3 reports. www.nio.gov.uk/policing.htm. I again welcome the continued work of members of the Steering Group in forging closer ties with counterparts in North America and elsewhere.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Policing in Divided Societies: a Comparative Study Between Northern Irish and Lebanese Police Experiences
    LEBANESE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Policing in Divided Societies: A Comparative Study between Northern Irish and Lebanese Police Experiences By Amr Khaled Yafawi A thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Affairs School of Arts and Sciences September 2013 ii ii iii iii iv iv v vi Policing in Divided Societies: A Comparative Study between Northern Irish and Lebanese Police Experiences Amr Yafawi Abstract This thesis compares models of policing in divided societies as applied in Lebanon and Northern Ireland and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each. This is particularly significant due to the fact that both Lebanon and Northern Ireland have been challenged in their law enforcement abilities while confronted by a fragmented sectarian politics. Communal perception of law enforcement practices are typically shaped by strong sectarian biases that often undermine the effective application of the law. The thesis explores the reasons why the police force in Lebanon has not been able to gain public confidence. Comparative public opinion data from both countries are collected and analyzed. Results suggest that enhancing public confidence in Lebanese police force and strengthening positive public perception in the country‟s law enforcement agencies require strong communal interventions .Lessons drawn from the Northern Irish experience and analysis of Lebanese public opinion data suggest that in a post-conflict situation Community Oriented Policing (COP)needs to be combined with Problem Oriented Policing (POP) as a transitional approach that can strengthen community-police relations. This conclusion has been further confirmed by a series of interviews completed with chief police officers in both countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Young Men's Experiences of Violence and Crime in a Society Emerging
    Young men’s experiences of violence and crime in a society emerging from conflict Walsh, C., & Schubotz, D. (Accepted/In press). Young men’s experiences of violence and crime in a society emerging from conflict. Journal of Youth Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2019.1636012 Published in: Journal of Youth Studies Document Version: Peer reviewed version Queen's University Belfast - Research Portal: Link to publication record in Queen's University Belfast Research Portal Publisher rights Copyright 2019 Taylor and Francis This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher. General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Queen's University Belfast Research Portal is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The Research Portal is Queen's institutional repository that provides access to Queen's research output. Every effort has been made to ensure that content in the Research Portal does not infringe any person's rights, or applicable UK laws. If you discover content in the Research Portal that you believe breaches copyright or violates any law, please contact [email protected]. Download date:02. Oct. 2021 Young men’s experiences of violence and crime in a society emerging from conflict Abstract Previous studies have consistently established young men’s over representation in the criminal justice system particularly in relation to interpersonal violence.
    [Show full text]
  • The Government's Pledge to Eradicate Child Poverty in Two Decades And
    1 Child Poverty in Northern Ireland: the limits of welfare-to-work policies Goretti Horgan, University of Ulster. ‘‘Our historic aim will be for ours to be the first generation to end child poverty.’’ (Tony Blair, Beveridge Lecture, 1999) The boldest commitment from the current U.K. Labour Government was its determination to eliminate child poverty within a generation—defined as 20 years. This article examines the circumstances surrounding children living in poverty in Northern Ireland, the causes of the high levels of child poverty in the region, and explores the extent to which these can be improved by present government policies. It argues that those policies do not take into account the lack of employment opportunities, even for entry-level jobs of the poorest quality, in some areas of the UK, such as parts of Northern Ireland, the North East of England and Wales. Neither do current government policies address the issue of those who cannot work because of disability, long-term illness or because of caring responsibilities, whether for an adult who is elderly, ill or disabled, or for young children. Background Labour’s pledge to end child poverty has been replaced by a commitment to “having a material deprivation child poverty rate that approached zero and being among the best in Europe on relative low income” (DWP, 2003a). This would suggest an income poverty rate of between six and nine percent, or almost one in 2 ten children living in poverty1. The DWP has developed a list of material deprivation indicators which will be included as questions in the Family Resources Survey from 2004.
    [Show full text]
  • Engineering a Knowledge Island 2020 Full Report Pdf
    Sponsored by Engineering a Knowledge Island 2020 Irish Academy of Engineering Engineers Ireland Sponsored by InterTradeIreland October 2005 Engineering a Knowledge Island 2020 i This report has been prepared jointly by the Irish Academy of Engineering and Engineers Ireland, both of which are all island engineering organisations. This report was sponsored by InterTradeIreland. The Irish Academy of Engineering was established in 1997, and comprises over 100 engineers of significant achievement and wide experience. The Academy focuses on long term issues where the engineering profession can make an unique contribution to economic, social and technological development. www.iae.ie The Irish Academy of Engineering, 46 Merrion Sq, Dublin 2. Tel: 00353 1 642 5588 Fax: 00353 1 642 5590 Engineers Ireland was founded in 1835, has over 21,000 members and is the largest professional body operating on the island. It is concerned with promoting the development of the engineering profession and an environment which will stimulate world class development on the island. Engineers Ireland is the operating name of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. www.engineersireland.ie Engineers Ireland, 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Tel: 00353 1 668 4341 Fax: 00353 1 668 5508 InterTradeIreland, the Trade and Business Development Body, is one of the six cross-border bodies set up under the 1998 Belfast Agreement. InterTradeIreland's mission is: "To enhance the global competitiveness of the all-island economy to the mutual benefit of Ireland and Northern Ireland through measures such as the creation of knowledge intensive all-island trade and business development networks and the implementation of all-island trade and business development programmes".
    [Show full text]
  • The Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland
    Improving Public Services: Public Administration Reform in Northern Ireland Colin Knox & Paul Carmichael1 Journal of Social Policy Volume 35 (1): 97-120 Contact details: School of Policy Studies University of Ulster Shore Road Jordanstown Northern Ireland BT 37 OQB Telephone: 028 90366667 or 90368896 Fax: 028 90366847 Email: [email protected] [email protected] 25th October 2004 Word count: 7856 1 The authors wish to acknowledge the support for the research in this paper from the ESRC Devolution and Constitutional Change Programme. We would also like to thank anonymous referees for helpful comments on the paper. Improving Public Services: Public Administration Reform in Northern Ireland Abstract The devolved government in Northern Ireland set about the task of putting in place ‘a modern and effective system of public administration that can deliver high quality public services to our citizens’. It did so through a review of public administration launched in June 2002. This paper offers a formative evaluation of the quest to improve the quality of public services, now being taken forward by a British minister since the suspension of devolution. It argues that the review is being driven by institutional concerns and is devoid of a public service modernising agenda. Additionally, it contends that how people in Northern Ireland perceive public services is contingent on their views on its constitutional status (Direct Rule or devolved government) which, in turn, is linked to their support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, rather than the performance of public bodies. As a consequence, the reforms may result in little more than institutional tinkering with doubtful impact on the quality of public services.
    [Show full text]
  • Display PDF in Separate
    Final Report Project WFD18 Valuing water use in Scotland and Northern Ireland for WFD implementation purposes November 2004 © SNIFFER 2004 All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of SNIFFER. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of SNIFFER. Its members, servants or agents accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained herein. Dissemination status Unrestricted Research contractor This document was produced by: Entec UK Limited 17, Angel Gate City Road London, EC1V 2SH UK SNIFFER’s project manager SNIFFER’s project manager for this contract is: Eric McRory, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) SNIFFER’s project steering group members are: Rebecca Badger, SNIFFER (until April 2004) Kirsty Irving, SNIFFER (from April 2004) Craig Campbell, NFU Scotland Clifford Henry, Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland Evan Williams, Scottish Environment Protection Agency Tom Harvie-Clarke, Scottish Executive SNIFFER First Floor, Greenside House 25 Greenside Place EDINBURGH EH1 3AA www.sniffer.org.uk SNIFFER WFD18 Valuing water use in Scotland and November 2004 Northern Ireland for WFD implementation purposes Acknowledgements This report has benefited from comments provided by the steering group, which included representatives
    [Show full text]
  • Making Peace with the Past : Options for Truth Recovery in Northern Ireland
    Making Peace with the Past : Options for Truth Recovery In Northern Ireland McEvoy, K. (2006). Making Peace with the Past : Options for Truth Recovery In Northern Ireland. Healing Through Remembering. Document Version: Early version, also known as pre-print Queen's University Belfast - Research Portal: Link to publication record in Queen's University Belfast Research Portal General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Queen's University Belfast Research Portal is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The Research Portal is Queen's institutional repository that provides access to Queen's research output. Every effort has been made to ensure that content in the Research Portal does not infringe any person's rights, or applicable UK laws. If you discover content in the Research Portal that you believe breaches copyright or violates any law, please contact [email protected]. Download date:02. Oct. 2021 Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland Healing Through Remembering Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland HEALING THROUGH REMEMBERING MAKING PEACE WITH THE PAST OPTIONS FOR TRUTH RECOVERY REGARDING THE CONFLICT IN AND ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND Healing Through Remembering PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY HEALING THROUGH REMEMBERING WRITTEN BY PROF. KIERAN McEVOY OCTOBER 2006 ISBN 1 905882 07 6 (10 DIGIT) ISBN 978 1 905882 07 6 (13 DIGIT) The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect the personal views of all members of Healing Through Remembering.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Roads Service.Pub
    1 A History of Roads Service 1973 - 2005 2 3 Foreword In late 2003 the Northern Ireland Branch of the County Surveyors’ Society proposed that Roads Service should commission a printed document describing the creation of the organi- sation and the first 30 years of its history. In addition, consideration was to be given to the establishment of a physical archive of important documents and other material. This proposal was accepted in late 2004 and this document is the result of the efforts of the authors which have included consultation and discussion with many members of staff, both past and present. We were asked to prepare a history that was formal rather than anecdo- tal. It was acknowledged that there would be some overlap with other publications and in par- ticular the Institution of Highways and Transportation Silver Jubilee document of 1989, the Roads Service Jubilee Reflections of 1998, and the Northern Ireland Motorway Achieve- ment of 2002. We considered it important to set the formation of the organisation in the context of the pro- posals to reshape local government which were developed between 1966 and 1970. There are of course proposals stemming from the recent Review of Public Administration which may have far reaching implications for the Roads Service as we have known it over the last 33 years. In a publication such as this, it is not possible to record all organisational changes or cap- ture references to all functions the organisation carried out. However we hope that readers will find something of interest in the document. Finally, this document would not have been possible without the generous assistance of many people, the names of whom we have acknowledged in Appendix E.
    [Show full text]
  • Teaching for Democracy in the Absence of Transitional Justice: the Case of Northern Ireland
    Comparative Education ISSN: 0305-0068 (Print) 1360-0486 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cced20 Teaching for democracy in the absence of transitional justice: the case of Northern Ireland Elizabeth Anderson Worden & Alan Smith To cite this article: Elizabeth Anderson Worden & Alan Smith (2017) Teaching for democracy in the absence of transitional justice: the case of Northern Ireland, Comparative Education, 53:3, 379-395, DOI: 10.1080/03050068.2017.1334426 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03050068.2017.1334426 Published online: 14 Jun 2017. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 50 View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 1 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=cced20 Download by: [Ulster University Library] Date: 29 August 2017, At: 08:32 COMPARATIVE EDUCATION, 2017 VOL. 53, NO. 3, 379–395 https://doi.org/10.1080/03050068.2017.1334426 Teaching for democracy in the absence of transitional justice: the case of Northern Ireland Elizabeth Anderson Wordena and Alan Smithb aSchool of Education, American University, Washington, DC, USA; bUNESCO Chair, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK ABSTRACT In many cases, political circumstances do not allow formal for transitional justice processes to occur in countries undergoing a transition from a violent past. In this paper, we ask if education can become a default front line of transitional justice work in the absence of explicit action by the state to address past injustices. Drawing from interviews with educators and using a new citizenship education programme in Northern Ireland as our case study, we argue that several factors, including organisational constraints within the education system, limit the potential of the programme for supporting transitional justice goals.
    [Show full text]
  • Making Peace with the Past
    Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland Healing Through Remembering Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland HEALING THROUGH REMEMBERING MAKING PEACE WITH THE PAST OPTIONS FOR TRUTH RECOVERY REGARDING THE CONFLICT IN AND ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND Healing Through Remembering PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY HEALING THROUGH REMEMBERING WRITTEN BY PROF. KIERAN McEVOY OCTOBER 2006 ISBN 1 905882 07 6 (10 DIGIT) ISBN 978 1 905882 07 6 (13 DIGIT) The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect the personal views of all members of Healing Through Remembering. To be ordered directly from Healing Through Remembering Alexander House, 17a Ormeau Avenue, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9023 8844 Email: [email protected] Reports can also be downloaded from www.healingthroughremembering.org Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland This report was developed by the following members of the Healing Through Remembering Truth Recovery and Acknowledgement Sub Group Sarah Alldred Marie Breen Smyth Emily Brough Pat Conway Séamas Heaney Gareth Higgins Avila Kilmurray Patricia Lundy Stephen Martin Roy McClelland Kieran McEvoy Jackie McMullan Raymond Murray Paul O’Connor David W. Porter Dawn Purvis Andrew Rawding Joe Rice Mike Ritchie Tom Roberts Mark Thompson Irwin Turbitt Alan Wardle Written by Kieran McEvoy Core Consultant and Facilitator Brandon Hamber Project Co-ordinator Kate Turner Support Staff Lainey Dunne Elaine Armstrong Sara Templer Overseen and supported by the Board of Healing Through Remembering Marie Breen Smyth Sean Coll Claire Hackett Maureen Hetherington Alan McBride Roy McClelland Jackie McMullan Dawn Purvis Geraldine Smyth Oliver Wilkinson Healing Through Remembering Acknowledgements Healing Through Remembering would like to thank a number of people who have been extremely helpful in the writing and production of this document.
    [Show full text]
  • Making Peace with the Past : Options for Truth Recovery in Northern Ireland
    Making Peace with the Past : Options for Truth Recovery In Northern Ireland McEvoy, K. (2006). Making Peace with the Past : Options for Truth Recovery In Northern Ireland. Healing Through Remembering. Document Version: Early version, also known as pre-print Queen's University Belfast - Research Portal: Link to publication record in Queen's University Belfast Research Portal General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Queen's University Belfast Research Portal is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The Research Portal is Queen's institutional repository that provides access to Queen's research output. Every effort has been made to ensure that content in the Research Portal does not infringe any person's rights, or applicable UK laws. If you discover content in the Research Portal that you believe breaches copyright or violates any law, please contact [email protected]. Download date:24. Sep. 2021 Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland Healing Through Remembering Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland HEALING THROUGH REMEMBERING MAKING PEACE WITH THE PAST OPTIONS FOR TRUTH RECOVERY REGARDING THE CONFLICT IN AND ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND Healing Through Remembering PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY HEALING THROUGH REMEMBERING WRITTEN BY PROF. KIERAN McEVOY OCTOBER 2006 ISBN 1 905882 07 6 (10 DIGIT) ISBN 978 1 905882 07 6 (13 DIGIT) The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect the personal views of all members of Healing Through Remembering.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Administration Reform in Northern Ireland
    Jnl Soc. Pol., 35, 1, 97–120 C 2005 Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/S0047279405009311 Printed in the United Kingdom Improving Public Services: Public Administration Reform in Northern Ireland COLIN KNOX∗ and PAUL CARMICHAEL∗∗ ∗School of Policy Studies, University of Ulster, Shore Road, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland BT 37 OQB email: [email protected] ∗∗As above email: [email protected] Abstract The devolved government in Northern Ireland set about the task of putting in place ‘a modern and effective system of public administration that can deliver high quality public services to our citizens’. It did so through a review of public administration launched in June 2002. This article offers a formative evaluation of the quest to improve the quality of public services, now being taken forward by a British minister since the suspension of devolution. It argues that the review is being driven by institutional concerns and is devoid of a public service modernising agenda. Additionally, it contends that how people in Northern Ireland perceive public services is contingent on their views on its constitutional status (Direct Rule or devolved government) which, in turn, is linked to their support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, rather than the performance of public bodies. As a consequence, the reforms may result in little more than institutional tinkering with doubtful impact on the quality of public services. Introduction The current structure of public administration in Northern Ireland has evolved in a piecemeal fashion as a response to the wider political developments in the Province since the prorogation of its Parliament (Stormont) in March 1972.
    [Show full text]