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New PSNI unit to investigate Northern Ireland's past | New PSNI unit to investigate Northern Ireland's past |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is setting up a special unit to investigate the past. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland is setting up a special unit to investigate the past. |
It will take over the work of the Historical Enquiries Team and will start work in January. | It will take over the work of the Historical Enquiries Team and will start work in January. |
Its initial workload will include investigating the Bloody Sunday killings and reviewing letters sent to around 200 republican On the Runs. | Its initial workload will include investigating the Bloody Sunday killings and reviewing letters sent to around 200 republican On the Runs. |
Seventy officers and staff will be employed in the unit. | Seventy officers and staff will be employed in the unit. |
Chief Constable George Hamilton told Policing Board members that current financial challenges had led to a change in how the police service responded to the demands of the past and the pace at which this would take place. | Chief Constable George Hamilton told Policing Board members that current financial challenges had led to a change in how the police service responded to the demands of the past and the pace at which this would take place. |
The HET was set up in 2005 as a special investigative unit attached to the PSNI to re-examine the deaths of 3,260 people in Northern Ireland between 1968 and 1998. | The HET was set up in 2005 as a special investigative unit attached to the PSNI to re-examine the deaths of 3,260 people in Northern Ireland between 1968 and 1998. |
Earlier this year the police announced that financial pressures would lead to the closure of the unit. | Earlier this year the police announced that financial pressures would lead to the closure of the unit. |
Last year the director of the HET Dave Cox stood down after a highly critical inspection report. | Last year the director of the HET Dave Cox stood down after a highly critical inspection report. |
Sinn Féin said the new unit would not have public confidence. | |
"At today's meeting of the Policing Board the chief constable announced the HET would cease to exist on December 31 and will be replaced by a legacy investigation unit early in the new year," the party's Pat Sheehan said. | |
"We are very disappointed by this announcement as it is clear this new body will not be compliant with human rights legislation, particularly Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life. | |
"In all our engagements with victims' groups they told us that whatever replaces the HET must be Article 2 compliant." |
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