The Northern Ireland police Oversight Commissioner, Mr Tom Constantine, has placed himself in conflict with the views of Sinn Féin by stating that proposals to overhaul the PSNI Special Branch meet the best practice requirements of any police force in the world.
Mr Constantine, who yesterday published his latest report monitoring progress in the implementation of the Patten proposals, insisted that reforms to Special Branch recommended by the Inspector of Constabulary, Mr Dan Crompton, were substantial.
He made no direct comment on Sinn Féin in an Irish Times interview yesterday or in his report but his claim is at variance with Sinn Féin's opinion of the Crompton proposals, which seek to make Special Branch - which will have a new name, Intelligence Branch - more accountable and bring it generally within the umbrella of the PSNI's crime investigation department.
When the Crompton report was published last month, Sinn Féin's policing spokesman Mr Gerry Kelly MLA said it did very little to address the control Special Branch and MI5 had over key aspects of policing. Mr Kelly also said yesterday it was clear from Mr Constantine's report that the Special Branch remained a "force within a force".
Mr Constantine argued that the Crompton proposals were reforming. "We now have clear guidelines on best practices, and If those are followed then that solves everybody's problems," he told The Irish Times.
Mr Constantine however had criticisms of the pace of reform of Special Branch.
He expressed concern that his remit as Oversight Commissioner, due to conclude next May, could run out before the linkage between the crime and Special Branch departments was completed.
"It has become increasingly obvious that the co-ordination between Special Branch and other units of the Police Service required by the (Patten) recommendations has yet to occur," he said.
Mr Constantine indicated that he would be willing to continue as Oversight Commissioner if his remit was extended, but not indefinitely and perhaps in a more "flexible" arrangement.
Without naming any group, whether republican or loyalist, he complained of potential recruits being "openly discouraged" from joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The Oversight Commissioner said while there was little progress in freeing up police officers from desk duties by employing more civilians he believed this problem would be resolved.
He called for new procedures, sanctions and inducements to reduce the PSNI sick leave rates, which at 23.4 sick days per officer is the worst in the UK.
He described the police training complex at Garnerville in Belfast as "deplorable".
Mr Constantine also complained that the 29 PSNI district commanders were not getting the required supports to allow them function properly.
Mr Jim McDonald, the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints, reported that 102 plastic bullets were fired by British soldiers in Northern Ireland between January 2001 and October this year.
He proposed that military police teams equipped with video cameras should be used to film soldiers firing baton rounds during riots to ensure they were legally fired.
