Angus McCullough KC has issued a Progress Report in relation to the work of the Review that he is conducting. Mr McCullough is the independent reviewer appointed by the Chief Constable of PSNI to examine conduct by the Police Service of Northern Ireland arising from concerns raised in relation to surveillance of journalists, lawyers and other groups.
In line with my determination that the work of the Review, and in due course its findings and recommendations, should be as open as possible, I have today published a Progress Report, which is available on the Review's website, accessible below.
My review is examining the use of surveillance by PSNI affecting specific groups: journalists, lawyers, NGOs, and regulators (Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board) from 2011 to 1 November 2024.
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, nor do they have access to any sensitive material.
The Progress Report issued today provides a public summary of the work done to date, outlines the facilities and access available to the Review team, and some of the lines of inquiry. A further update is planned for early March 2025.