Marie Anderson: Investigation at home of NI police watchdog

An English police force has been asked to investigate an alleged incident at the home of Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has asked West Midlands Police to lead the investigation.

No further details have been released but it is understood it relates to an incident over two days at her home in Holywood, County Down, last month.

Unionist parties have called on Ms Anderson to step aside from her role.

The Police Ombudsman's office said it would not comment on the matter.

The office of the Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman holds the PSNI to account and investigates claims of misconduct made against PSNI officers.

Rather than investigate the watchdog itself, the PSNI has called on the services of another force.

In respect of an alleged domestic incident in Holywood on 23 September, the PSNI said at the time that a 63-year-old man was arrested for common assault and interviewed on 24 September.

He was released and a file was being forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service, added the force.

In its latest statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland have asked West Midlands Police to lead an investigation and assess whether there are any further criminal offences following an alleged incident in County Down in September 2023.

They added: "As this investigation is now live we will not be providing any further comment."

The Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) deputy leader Gavin Robinson said he welcomed the involvement of the West Midlands Police over the "serious allegations" that had been made.

He said Ms Anderson should step aside until the investigation had concluded.

"A number of high-profile events have recently impacted on morale within the PSNI," said the East Belfast MP.

"At a time when they crave stability, they do not believe the current situation is tenable."

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie also called on Ms Anderson to temporarily step down from her position until the findings of the investigation are published.

Speaking on Thursday, he said: "In light of the investigation announced tonight, I feel it would be appropriate that Ms Anderson step down from her role with immediate effect.

"This will allow for the office of the ombudsman to continue their existing work without distraction or challenge during the necessary process of the investigation."

Ms Anderson is the fourth person to hold the position of Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland since the office was established in November 2000.

She has a background in law, having qualified as a solicitor in 1985 after graduating from Queen's University Belfast.

During a career spanning almost 40 years, she has held a number of high-profile public service positions.

In 2003, she became the first assistant information commissioner for Northern Ireland.

She served a five-year term in the role, during which time she established the Information Commissioner's Office in Northern Ireland.

In 2016, she was appointed as Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, a watchdog role which investigates complaints about public service providers.

Within that role she also held the position of Northern Ireland local government commissioner for standards, leading investigations into complaints about the conduct of local councillors.

Ms Anderson took up her role as police ombudsman in July 2019.

She is married with three grown-up sons.

The investigation follows a period of significant separate controversies within Northern Ireland policing.

The force is currently recruiting a new chief constable following the resignation of Simon Byrne on 4 September.

Mr Byrne quit in the wake of a major data breach and a separate High Court judgement that ruled two PSNI officers had been unlawfully disciplined.

The data breach happened in August when surnames, and initials of 10,000 police employees were accidentally included in a freedom of information response.

Later that month, Mr Byrne was criticised over the treatment of two junior PSNI officers who had made an arrest at a Troubles commemoration in Belfast in 2021.

BBC News NI understands that two applicants have been shortlisted for the job of chief constable - Interim Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton.