**Please note that this consultation is now closed.**
We're inviting views on any or all of the 23 recommendations we are making for legislative change to support our vision to be a contemporary policing oversight body.
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is required to undertake a review of the legislation which governs the work of the Office every five years.
The overall objective of this review is to create a series of recommendations which, if or when they are enacted, will provide a contemporary and effective legislative framework which aligns with international best practice and which supports the primary statutory duty of the Police Ombudsman: to secure an efficient, effective and independent police complaints system and the confidence of the public and of the police in that system.
The last review was undertaken in 2020 and the latest review was completed at the end of 2025.
It contains 23 recommendations which we believe support our vision to be a contemporary policing oversight body.
We are now opening a formal public consultation.
The views of our partner organisations, those in the wider justice, public, community and voluntary sectors, as well as the perspectives of police officers, those who use our services, our staff and the public in general are critical to inform any proposals for legislative change.
Our consultation closed on Friday 3 April 2026 and the online response form is no longer available. You can continue to download the recommendations.