Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey, has commented on the call for an audit to be carried out of the PSNI practice of employing as civilian staff some former RUC officers who received a redundancy payment under the Patten Report.
West Tyrone MLA Mr Hussey, who represents his Party on the Policing Board, said:
'Today there have been calls from some quarters for an investigation by the Audit Office on the practice of the PSNI hiring ex RUC Officers as civilian staff. I have made my feelings clear on this issue in that I see absolutely nothing wrong with a former RUC Officer working in a civilian capacity within the PSNI. There is legislation in place which means that those Police Officers who left under the Patten proposals cannot return to the same role within five years without financial implications. There is no such restriction in relation to civilian roles.'
'I welcome the words of the Deputy Chief Constable, Judith Gillespie, in stating that external scrutiny would actually clear up any misconceptions about the practice of recruiting former RUC Officers to civilian positions within the PSNI. I would also reiterate that the PSNI have acted entirely within employment laws in this matter and am confident that any external audit would find this to be the case.”