An inspection into the independence of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

This inspection arose because of concerns raised in relation to a lowering of the operational independence of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI). The purpose of the inspection was to assess the operational independence of the OPONI and examine any issues that could be said to undermine its independence.

In the context of Northern Ireland the perception of independence as well as its reality is critical as it impacts directly on the confidence of those who engage with the organisation. In this inspection we have considered whether the independence of the OPONI has been or can be reasonably seen to have been reduced in terms of its decision-making capacity.