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| Cold cases 'costing too much' | Cold cases 'costing too much' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Out of more than 1,100 unsolved murders from the Troubles re-opened by a team of detectives, it has emerged just one has been put forward for prosecution. | Out of more than 1,100 unsolved murders from the Troubles re-opened by a team of detectives, it has emerged just one has been put forward for prosecution. |
| A Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report said the high cost of inquiries into Northern Ireland's troubled past is "financially unsustainable". | A Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report said the high cost of inquiries into Northern Ireland's troubled past is "financially unsustainable". |
| It said too much focus on cold cases is compromising the police's ability to cope with present-day terror threats. | It said too much focus on cold cases is compromising the police's ability to cope with present-day terror threats. |
| The £34m project re-examining more than 3,200 killings needs reviewed, it said. | The £34m project re-examining more than 3,200 killings needs reviewed, it said. |
| In its Policing the Past report, the Committee warned the cost of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and associated investigations could spiral to more than £45m - 60% over the original budget. | In its Policing the Past report, the Committee warned the cost of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and associated investigations could spiral to more than £45m - 60% over the original budget. |
| Committee chairman Sir Patrick Cormack said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland faces significant demands in terms of its work with all of the different historical investigations and we are concerned about the impact of this in relation to the police service's primary role in policing the present." | |
| Ombudsman's workload | |
| The report also found the efficiency of the Police Ombudsman has been damaged by the workload posed by its remit to investigate historic events. | |
| The HET is investigating unsolved murders | |
| Cases dealt with by the HET that involve potential misconduct by officers in what was then the Royal Ulster Constabulary are referred to Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson. | |
| So far the HET has passed 54 investigations to the Ombudsman's office, with 300 more expected before 2013 when the chronological re-examination of files is due to be completed. | |
| The report said: "The number of complaints about the former Royal Ulster Constabulary arising from the years of the Troubles and the inadequate provision of additional resources have compromised the Ombudsman's ability to investigate complaints against the PSNI. | |
| "There is a risk that this reduced capability will damage public perception of the Ombudsman's Office and public confidence in policing." | |
| The committee also said issues had to be resolved around PSNI cooperation with inquiries and unheard coroner's cases into killings during the Troubles. | |
| It said the future of the HET project would ultimately have to be reassessed in the context of the findings of the Consultative Group on the Past. | |
| Set up to look at how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, the group is co-chaired by former Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and ex-Policing Board vice chairman Denis Bradley. | |
| It is due to present its recommendations to the government later this summer. |