PSNI response to serious assault 'effective and efficient' - Ombudsman

By Q Radio News

The Police Ombudsman has found that the PSNI response to a serious assault in South Down in 2015 was "efficient and effective".

It follows a complaint about the quality of a police investigation into an attack that left a man with fractures to his skull, cheek and nose as well as bleeding on the brain.

The man sustained the injuries when he and a friend were assaulted outside a bar in July 2015.

Although two men have since received suspended prison sentences following a conviction for common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the victim was concerned.

He complained to the Police Ombudsman that police had failed to seize his clothes as evidence, and that he had not been advised to keep the clothing, which had since been disposed of.

But the officer who had been first to arrive at the incident said the clothing would have added nothing to the police investigation.

She explained that the victim of the assault had been in the company of the suspects earlier in the evening, so further evidence of contact between the parties would not have assisted the case.

She added that her first priority after arriving at the scene had been to provide first aid and request medical assistance. She then sought witnesses and established the identities of the suspects and their vehicle.

These details were circulated on police radio, which led to the car being stopped and an arrest being made. The other suspect was arrested later.

Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, said, “This was a challenging incident for the officer, but enquiries have shown that the she dealt with it in a calm, effective and carefully considered way which has since helped bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Enquiries also found that in the days after the attack, both the officer, and subsequently the Criminal Investigations Department, had provided the man and his family with appropriate updates on the progress of the investigation and forthcoming court dates.

There was also found to be insufficient evidence to uphold an allegation that police had failed to act quickly enough when one of the suspects was reported to be in breach of his bail conditions by drinking in a pub several months after the attack.

Evidence showed that police had arrived within 43 minutes of the report and had made an arrest.