The McCullough Review

I have been appointed by the Chief Constable to conduct an independent review of any PSNI use of surveillance against certain groups:  journalists, lawyers, NGOs, and regulators (Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board) from 2011 to date. Anything within the scope of ongoing proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal is excluded from my remit, and those proceedings will take their own course.

Although appointed by the Chief Constable my review is entirely independent. A group of experts and stakeholders (GoES) has been formed. The membership of the group is set out here. The GoES’ role is to advise and provide direction to the review, but its members do not make any decisions in relation to it: I have sole responsibility for conduct of the review, although the Chief Constable is ultimately accountable for it. The input and advice of the GoES has already proved invaluable, and I am sure will continue to be so as my work proceeds.

In close conjunction with the GoES draft terms of reference were formulated and put to the Chief Constable, who agreed them without amendment. 

View the terms of reference.

I have been assured that I will be afforded full access to PSNI records and serving personnel to facilitate the review, as reflected by the terms of reference. Any former PSNI personnel are permitted and encouraged by the Chief Constable to engage fully with my review.

Any individual or group that has information relevant to this inquiry is encouraged to be in touch with me. For this purpose a Questionnaire may be downloaded, to be completed and sent to my secure email address on a confidential basis. To be clear, anyone volunteering information to my review by this means may do so without being identified outside the review team; not to PSNI nor the wider public. Deadline for evidence (as extended): the deadline for response to this call for evidence is extended (from 5pm on Friday 18 October 2024) to 5pm on Friday 1 November 2024.

Maximum openness:  My findings will be published in a report which will contain as much detail as it is possible to include in a public document.  It is intended that anyone found to have been affected by unlawful PSNI conduct should be informed, if legally possible, and in any event any appropriate referrals made by the Chief Constable to the relevant regulator, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO). As also envisaged by the terms of reference, I will make any recommendations that appear to be indicated in the light of the findings of the review.

I intend to provide updates on the work of the review and its progress on this site.