Police ombudsman launches pilot mediation project

The Police Ombudsman’s Office is to launch a trial project to gauge support for the use of mediation as a way of dealing with some less serious complaints against the police.

The project is being launched initially in north and west Belfast and, depending on feedback from officers and complainants, it may then be rolled out to other areas of Northern Ireland.

Project Co-ordinator Geraldine Loughran said: “Mediation will usually involve face-to-face dialogue between the complainant and the police officer so that they can discuss and reach agreement on a suitable way of resolving the issues between them.

“The process will be guided by a trained, impartial and independent mediator and the focus will be on problem-solving and reaching agreement, rather than finding fault, assigning blame or punishing anyone.

“No resolution is out of bounds unless it is illegal or unethical. It is entirely for the complainant and officer to agree between them, and with the exception of the mediator, no one else will know the terms of the resolution unless everyone involved agrees that details should be divulged.”

The trial project will run until next February and is designed to gauge the level of support for mediation among members of the public and police officers.

For further information Geraldine can be contacted by phone 028 9082 8743, or by email at Geraldine.loughran@policeombudsman.org.