Debate contribution: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Brian Kingston on 9 June 2026.

MLA

Mr Brian Kingston

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

9 June 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Justice Bill: Consideration Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5601946

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I rise as a DUP member of the Justice Committee to comment on the group 4 amendments. Most of the debate has been about amendment No 68 on disciplinary proceedings concerning former police officers. As the Committee Chair mentioned earlier, the Justice Committee did not receive the wording in good time, so could not achieve an agreed Committee position. As DUP members, we do, of course, support police accountability and arrangements for that through the Policing Board and the Police Ombudsman's office. However, as you have heard, we are also very mindful of the incredibly difficult circumstances in which PSNI and, previously, RUC officers served during the Troubles and the ongoing level of threat that officers have to live with today. Let us not forget that. I speak as the relative of two serving police officers who were murdered by the IRA during the Troubles. We are concerned that amendment No 68, relating to disciplinary proceedings against former police officers, would be out of keeping with arrangements for other public-sector staff. As highlighted by the Ulster Unionist Member for North Antrim, the previous Police Ombudsman was adjudged by a High Court judge to have exceeded her powers in making claims of so-called "collusive behaviour" in Troubles incidents. We are concerned that powers like those could be used as an alternative means by which to conduct inquiries into police officer conduct during the difficult circumstances of the Troubles. Briefly, on amendment No 69 and amendment No 127, which inserts schedule 5 on the police barred list and police advisory list, again, as the Chair mentioned, the wording did not come to the Committee in sufficient time to enable members to reach an agreed position. However, the DUP welcomes the introduction of the police barred list and police advisory list, and alignment with such lists elsewhere in the UK. We also support that those regulations would apply to other relevant statutory agencies, such as the international airport constabulary, the harbour police and support staff. In closing, we are content to support amendment Nos 76, 77 and 131.

345 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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