Alexander McCartney sex abuse case: 'Without more resources for the PSNI this is going to happen again'
Politicians of all stripes have said that the Police Ombudsman’s report into the Alexander McCartney case shows the need for more money for the PSNI, with Doug Beattie MLA saying that unless that happens, “this type of thing is going to happen time and time again”.
Mr Beattie also said that the Department of Justice must make sure it does not direct money towards things that are not “core” objectives.
The ombudsman’s office report into Newry sex blackmailer McCartney, now aged in his late 20s, did not find any wrongdoing by any officers, but pointed instead to systemic problems.
He had first been arrested in 2016, when he was aged 17.
Due to a lack of resources, it took over two years for the police to compile all the information needed about indecent images that were found on his electronic devices before they could interview him again.
“During the same two-year period, McCartney had been involved in abusive online communications involving at least seven other children,” the ombudsman’s office said.
It added that whilst “he was on police bail throughout this time”, the PSNI “were unable to adequately impose or manage meaningful bail conditions” due to staff being over-stretched.
One of McCartney’s victims, Cimarron Thomas, a 12-year-old girl from West Virginia, shot herself after being blackmailed online by McCarthy. Her father later killed himself too.
The UUP described the ombudsman’s report as "damning", highlighting that the police’s inability to curb McCartney’s offending "was not due to lack of will, but lack of resources".
Mr Beattie said: “This case highlights how we have allowed the PSNI to be reduced to a shadow of itself by not prioritising funding for the force.
"The reality is officers are dedicated and committed but can only do so much, but without resources, without the correct staffing levels, without the investment in infrastructure and technology, this type of thing is going to happen time and time again.
"Without a doubt, the Department of Justice needs increased funding, but it also needs to look at the outcomes of its present funding distribution and remove those activities that eat up resources but do not support the core aims of the department of ensuring safety of our society through effective policing and a workable criminal justice system.”
The Department of Justice was asked to respond to Mr Beattie’s comments, but no reply had been forthcoming at time of writing.
However, the Alliance Party, whose leader Naomi Long serves as justice minister, told the News Letter: “This is a significant report into a highly distressing case and it’s important time is taken to consider and implement its recommendations.
“Assembly collapse and a decade of underfunding have impacted on policing and the wider justice system.
"But despite that, the minister has made PSNI recruitment and resourcing a priority from day one.
"The PSNI receives two-thirds of the core justice budget and more on top through monitoring rounds and transformation funding.
"If the UUP would like to join us in advocating for much-needed greater funding for the justice system they are welcome to do so, rather than seeking to score cheap points and social media likes off the back of an incredibly sensitive case.”
‘WE MUST INCREASE POLICE NUMBERS’:
Also commenting on the ombudsman’s report was DUP Policing Board member Trevor Clarke, who told the News Letter: “Of absolute priority for any society must be to keep our children safe, and it is simply not acceptable that such a failure as outlined in this case could occur.
"The Police Ombudsman’s findings highlight the very real dangers of an overstretched and under-resourced PSNI.
"Proper resourcing is essential to ensure this can never happen again, and this is further evidence of the urgent need for an increase in police numbers.
"Whilst the PSNI is offering assurances that lessons have been learnt, and improvements on how such cases are investigated have been progressed, public confidence must be restored.
"This can only be achieved with clear evidence this deplorable criminal activity is being tackled effectively.”
Fellow Policing Board member Colin McGrath of the SDLP said: “The PSNI is facing an incredibly challenging funding situation and this has not been addressed by our Justice Minister or the Executive.
"I recognise the limitations on the Executive budget, but the current situation is impacting public confidence and we urgently need to see funding for the PSNI’s recovery plan.
“The McCartney case shows the serious consequences under-resourcing can have in the most serious and extreme of cases and there is a responsibility to increase officer numbers and ensure the PSNI is properly funded to do its job.”
Sinn Fein Policing Board member Linda Dillon pointed to the fact that the PSNI prioritised things like terrorism when it came to working through the backlog of electronic devices to be analysed.
She said “violence against women and girls in the digital space can have devastating consequences and should carry equal weight in terms of the prioritisation of digital forensic examinations”.