Government ‘has failed to accept fiscal responsibility for legacy of Troubles’

The UK Government has failed to accept “fiscal responsibility” for dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, the PSNI Chief Constable has said.

Jon Boutcher said a lack of funding for police to assist a new legacy framework means he would not be surprised if victims’ families fear it is a “deliberate” attempt to delay progress.

The UK and Irish governments announced an agreement in September which proposes a new-look Legacy Commission that will take on criminal investigations into Troubles deaths and a separate Independent Commission for Information Retrieval (ICIR), which will seek to provide answers to victims’ families in cases where criminal prosecutions are not considered realistic.

But Mr Boutcher told the Policing Board that in order for the new arrangements to succeed, there had to be dedicated funding for the PSNI to service them.

He said: “The legacy of our past remains a deeply personal and defining issue for many in our communities.

“The recently announced legacy framework brings renewed hope for victims and for families who have been waiting for too long for information and resolution.

“If the recently announced legacy framework is to succeed, and victims are to receive a process they can trust, it must be supported through additional, dedicated funding as part of a whole systems approach by Westminster.”

The Chief Constable said there had been a “failure by Westminster” to fund the PSNI to address the consequences the force inherited from the Troubles.

He added: “Currently, we have in excess of 1,100 Troubles-related civil cases, almost 200 murders that do not come within the criteria of the legacy legislation.

“We are also now to be required to service a number of legacy inquests.

“The ongoing costs of servicing legacy is £24 million a year.

“This can be expected to rise dramatically, yet the UK Government continues to fail to accept fiscal responsibility for these issues.

“Additionally, legacy-related public inquiries rely on the PSNI providing information and this brings further unfunded pressures.

“The Omagh Inquiry currently is estimated to be costing £15 million to the PSNI and the Finucane Inquiry will be in excess, we believe, of £20 million.”

Mr Boutcher said he “wholeheartedly supported” the need for proper and meaningful disclosure to families in Troubles cases.

He added: “Our historical approach to legacy has held society back and in the absence of financial provision for the PSNI to service these legacy structures, yet again I feel there will be delay, frustration and errors are likely to occur.

“We have so few resources to deal with these issues.

“I am certain the lack of funding is a strategic oversight rather than a malign intent to delay these mechanisms from making the progress families deserve.

“But I would not be surprised if families fear that that is deliberate.”

He said: “The resources I have managing these legacy issues and the significant costs associated with settling civil cases are, as we know, not funded.

“These are the resources and funding that should be going into policing Northern Ireland today.

“The net result of this lack of planning means that legacy families are still being failed and the strain on our budget means society has less policing today and is less safe than it should be.

“When will those with the power to change this start to listen?”