Down DPP in breach of own code of practice

newcastlerocks exists not only as a virtual noticeboard for community events, but also as an attempt to enhance local political accountability by increasing local engagement with public bodies – classic ‘conversational politics’ (as described by Mick Fealty of Slugger O’Toole fame), if you like.

One of the most important sets of public bodies in any community is the police and those to whom they are accountable. In our local context, that means the PSNI and the Down District Policing Partnership (DPP). 

However, in compiling the ‘Crime & Policing’ section, it quickly became apparent that the Down DPP section of the www.districtpolicing.com website was hopelessly out of date, with most of it not having been updated since 2006. No minutes of meetings have been published since October 2006 and no indication is given of when or where the next public meeting will be held. Neither has there been any publication of public surveys, policing plans or consultation documents since 2006.

In this, Down DPP appears to be in breach of the (April 2008) DPP Code of Practice, in particular section 7.4 which expects:

Reports of Meetings in Public
… Not later than 7 working days after the report of the meeting in public of a DPP has been formally ratified, the report must be available on the DPP website

The Patten Commission – in their recommendations overhauling Northern Ireland policing – envisaged district policing partnerships serving as a framework for “constant dialogue at local levels between the police and the community” in order to ensure democratic accountability (Patten Report, para.6.25).

The failure of Down DPP to keep the local public informed on policing decision-making can thus also be seen as an undermining of the Patten reforms of policing – one of the cornerstones of the ‘new Northern Ireland’.

Disgracefully, Down DPP is not unique. Just looking at meeting minutes published as an indicator, for Banbridge, the DPP has apparently only ever published online the minutes of one meeting, held in March 2006, Larne – none since September 2007; Newry & Mourne – April 2008; Antrim – September 2008; Magherafelt – October 2008; Newtownabbey – none since November 2008; Omagh – November 2008; Cookstown – November 2008; Fermanagh – November 2008; Ards – none since January 2009 (however, they do helpfully tell us the date of the next public meeting – Oct 2009); Armagh DPP – February 2009; Strabane – Feb 2009; Belfast – April 2009.

Lisburn (previously pursued by Alan in Belfast), along with Ballymena, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Derry, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Limavady, Moyle are the only DPPs which appear to be more or less up-to-date (i.e. with minutes published of meetings held in 2010).

I have been in touch with Down DPP and placed Freedom of Information requests with them and, via them, with the NI Policing Board, in an effort to get this information brought into the public domain online. I understand that a new person has recently taken up the position of DPP Manager at Down District Council - she has been most helpful so far and has pledged to get the website updated in coming weeks.

Four years on from when this information should have been first published, perhaps the promised online publication of minutes, policing reports, surveys and consultations can be seen as a small victory for newcastlerocks and the principle of hyperlocal blogging.

However, this does not change the fact that Freedom of Information inquiries should not be necessary to put get sort of information into the public domain in the first place, and that Down DPP – and most other DPPs in Northern Ireland – have been doing a dreadful job of keeping the public informed, thus failing in their fundamental role:

to encourage community involvement in policing and to enhance local police accountability.

What do you think? Have you had any contact with Down DPP? What has been your experience? Does this even matter?