Probe after on duty PSNI officers ‘at home on standby’

A senior officer has said the unauthorised policy was being operated in the Derry City and Strabane District Command Unit last month.

It is understood the decision to allow up to 28 officers to remain at home during their normal shift pattern was taken at a local level, and that it was ended when it came to the attention of senior commanders.

The area’s district commander, Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, said: “As part of the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic the police service took a range of steps to disperse members of staff, allow for home working and also maximise the number of police officers available for duty.

“On April 28, senior officers were informed that since April 13 in Derry City and Strabane District Command Unit, police officers have been detailed to stay at home and remain on standby to return to work rather than attend for duty.

“This practice is not one that has been endorsed by the senior management of the police service and now has been brought to an immediate end. During this period police numbers on duty did not dip below pre-Covid levels but the consequence was that an enhanced level of policing was not achieved.”

C/Supt Bond added: “An examination of the circumstances that led to the officers being detailed to stay at home has commenced to establish how this happened and establish if any officers have done anything wrong”.

However, a spokesman for the Police Ombudsman NI said: “At this stage, as this matter relates to police policy, it is not currently subject to investigation by the Police Ombudsman’s office.”

Chief Constable Simon Byrne is reported to have made the NI Policing Board aware of the circumstances of the investigation during a private session last week.