Links

Government

Northern Ireland Office

The role of the Northern Ireland Office is to support the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in securing a lasting peace, based on the Good Friday Agreement, in which the rights and identities of all traditions in Northern Ireland are fully respected and safeguarded and in which a safe, stable, just, open and tolerant society can thrive and prosper.

Miscellaneous

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is the largest advice charity in Northern Ireland, working against poverty and meeting the information and advice needs of some 200,000 people each year.

Northern Ireland Ombudsmans' Office

The purpose of this Office is to ensure that every citizen in Northern Ireland is served by a fair and efficient public administration that is committed to accountability; openness; and quality of service.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

The Equality Commission is the body responsible for combating discrimination and promoting equality in Northern Ireland.

Omagh Support and Self Help Group

A charity offering support to the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing.

Policing

Police Service of Northern Ireland

On Sunday, 4 November, 2001 The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) became the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) The changes to policing came about as part of reforms to the service under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Northern Ireland Policing Board

The Policing Board is an independent public body made up of 19 Political and Independent Members established to secure for all the people of Northern Ireland an effective, efficient and impartial police service which has the confidence of the whole community.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

The IPCC have taken over from the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) in England and Wales which ceased to exist on 31 March 2004. The IPCC has overall responsibility for the system for complaints against the police in England and Wales. It aims to raise standards, cut delays, increase public confidence and transform the way police forces handle complaints against the police.

Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body, established by the Garda Síochána Act, 2005. This Act provides for the establishment, powers and functions of GSOC. GSOC is responsible for receiving and dealing with complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána (the Irish Police Force) and has been operational since May 9th, 2007.

A Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland? The Hayes Report

On 28 November 1995 Dr Maurice Hayes was appointed to conduct a review of the police complaints system in Northern Ireland. The report, commonly referred to as the Hayes Report, was produced in 1997. [NB. This is a scan of the original document and is therefore a very large file which requires Unzip software to download].