Debate contribution: Katie Simpson Review Recommendations: Cross-Executive Cooperation
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 12 May 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Katie Simpson Review Recommendations: Cross-Executive Cooperation
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5528581
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am very supportive of an amendment that would allow the Police Ombudsman to submit an early report where it is clear that the officer concerned has committed gross misconduct to allow that person to be dismissed. It would allow the PSNI access to the information that is required to commence and conclude disciplinary proceedings as long as it would not prejudice any ongoing criminal case. Of course, it would have to liaise with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) about that. Such an amendment would require primary legislative change. Obviously, given our reduced mandate, we have not been able to progress that, but we are making changes to regulations that cover the code of conduct and vetting and barring issues. The Chamber will see more of that in the weeks ahead. It is my intention to do that as early as possible. Given the legislative burden that we carry, the Department would probably need to wait until the next mandate to do it. However, should any Member wish to amend legislation to accelerate that process, I would be more than happy to engage with them in support of it, because people must be held accountable and there must be consequences for such actions.
203 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.04 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.93).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.93 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.04 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.98 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.01 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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