The Office publishes an annual Statistical Bulletin which gives details of complaints and allegations received in Northern Ireland.
The latest annual bulletin relates to the 2023/24 year.
Main Findings
- The number of complaints received by the Police Ombudsman’s Office during 2023/24 increased by 5% from the previous year. This is the highest number of complaints received by the Office in the last five years.
- Criminal Investigation was the most common situation which gave rise to complaints during the year.
- The most frequent allegations received during 2023/24 were allegations of Failure in Duty, Oppressive Behaviour and Incivility.
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Just over two fifths (43%) of complaints dealt with by the Police Ombudsman’s Office were subject to a full investigation. In one in ten of these complaints, the Office found evidence to substantiate all or part of the complaint, or identified another concern during the investigation.
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On 13 occasions during the year the Police Ombudsman recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions should prosecute an officer.
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The Police Ombudsman recommended on 208 occasions that a police officer should receive a discipline or performance action.
We have also published an Excel Spreadsheet to accompany this Statistical Bulletin.
The next Statistical Bulletin will be published in June 2025.
Previous reports are available on our publications page at the following link:
Latest Publications from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland - Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland