Political leaders in Northern Ireland say that PSNI needs proper resourcing to be more effective
Following the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the issues around the case of Robert McCartney, NI politicians have came out calling for improved funding for the PSNI so that it is not constrained in addressing vital case work such as putting serial child sex abusers behind bars.
McGrath: McCartney case stark reminder of need for proper PSNI resourcing
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath MLA has said a Police Ombudsman investigation into the Alexander McCartney case is a stark reminder of the need to properly resource the PSNI.
The Ombudsman found that “under-resourcing” delayed the police investigation and potential prosecutions.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: “The Ombudsman’s report lays bare the very real consequences of failing to adequately resource the PSNI. Limited officer numbers to dedicate to this investigation allowed one of the most prolific child abusers in the world to continue offending due to delays in bringing him to justice.
“A lack of officer numbers and a depleted policing budget impacts everything from the most serious cases like this, to the number of officers on the ground serving local communities.
“This case also highlights the importance of the PSNI keeping on top of the changing nature of crime due to technology and ensuring we have adequate officer numbers dealing with online crime. That too will cost money.
“The PSNI is facing an incredibly challenging funding situation and this has not been addressed by our Justice Minister or the Executive. I recognise the limitations on the Executive budget, but the current situation is impacting public confidence and we urgently need to see funding for the PSNI’s recovery plan.
“The McCartney case shows the serious consequences under-resourcing can have in the most serious and extreme of cases and there is a responsibility to increase officer numbers and ensure the PSNI is properly funded to do its job.”
Lack of Resources Left PSNI Powerless Against Online Child Predator
Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA said the PSNI’s inability to act decisively on serial child sex abuser Alexander McCartney was not due to lack of will, but lack of resources.
A damning Police Ombudsman report confirms that critical forensic analysis was delayed because the PSNI was overwhelmed and underfunded.
Beattie warns that unless the Department of Justice urgently prioritises funding for frontline policing and forensic capacity, cases like McCartney’s will continue to slip through the cracks with devastating consequences.
Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA said: “The case of prolific child sex abuser, Alexander McCartney, has had a massive reach right across the globe.
“His online child sexual abuse, much of it while on bail, led to the death of Cimarron Thomas, from West Virginia, leaving the family devastated and leading directly to the death of Cimarron’s father, Benjamin Jay Thomas, who also took his own life.
“Where we can never redirect blame away from McCartney and his devastating activities, we must ensure that this type of serial sexual abuse never happens again and that we have the resources in place to prevent it or detect it.
“The Police Ombudsman’s report into the PSNI handling of the case has made it extremely clear, as has reports from the National Crime Agency, that the main issue was police resources.
“They simply didn’t have the capability or the capacity to direct the required resources to this case, including forensic analysis of McCartney’s device, while they also dealt with 935 computers and 284 mobile phones which also needed forensic examination and the live organised child abuse taking place.
“This case highlights how we have allowed the PSNI to be reduced to a shadow of itself by not prioritising funding for the force.
“The reality is officers are dedicated and committed but can only do so much, but without resource; without the correct staffing levels, without the investment in infrastructure and technology, this type of thing is going to happen time and time again.
“Without a doubt, the Department of Justice needs increased funding, but it also needs to look at the outcomes of its present funding distribution and remove those activities that eat up resource but do not support the core aims of the department of ensuring safety of our society through effective policing and a workable Criminal Justice System,” added Doug Beattie.
PSNI Statement in Response to Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Alexander McCartney Case
The Police Service of Northern Ireland acknowledges today’s findings from the Police Ombudsman’s investigation into our handling of the case involving Alexander McCartney.
A police spokesperson said:” “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by McCartney’s appalling crimes.
“We recognise the profound and lasting harm caused by his actions, and we are deeply sorry for any further distress these findings may cause. No words can undo the pain experienced, but we are committed to learning from this case to strengthen our ability to protect children and young people from harm in the future.
“We note the Police Ombudsman’s conclusion that no individual officer was found to have committed misconduct, and that the challenges identified stemmed from systemic resource pressures and capacity constraints within specialist teams at the time. Nevertheless, we fully accept the findings and the lessons that must be learned.
“At the time of this investigation, the demand on our Child Internet Protection Team (CIPT) and Cybercrime Centre was rising exponentially, far exceeding the available resources and technological capability. We recognise that this resulted in unacceptable delays in digital forensic analysis, investigative progression, and the management of bail conditions.
“Since then, a number of steps have been taken to improve our capacity and capability in this critical area of policing, ensuring information regarding digital submissions and associated risk are considered at an early stage.
“These include:
· Our Cyber Crime Centre has introduced a new submissions portal, which uses the THRIVE (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability, Engagement) risk model. This enables investigating officers to indicate increased risk factors and determine priorities for submitted devices.
· As part of a significant and longer-term transformation project, a new ‘gatekeeping’ team are in the process of being established. The team will specifically process all submissions in direct liaison with investigating officers, during which increased risk can be identified and prioritisation made.
· New technology has been employed, which encompasses both new hardware and software. The new technology significantly speeds up the process, decreasing the time from submission of a seized device, to identification if said device contains indecent images of children.
“However, it is important to be clear that the resourcing position today is even more challenging than it was at that time. Demand continues to grow across all areas of public protection and cybercrime, while the service faces ongoing financial and resourcing constraints. The Chief Constable has been unequivocal that sustained investment in policing is essential if we are to keep pace with this ever-increasing demand and maintain public confidence.
“In relation to bail, the Police Ombudsman’s report rightly highlights that investigative (pre-charge) bail is used in circumstances where a case is not yet ready to bring before the courts. This was the situation in McCartney’s case, where complex digital forensic work and evidence gathering were still ongoing. Once the case became ready for charge, McCartney was charged and subsequently remanded into custody.
“Protecting children from online sexual abuse and exploitation remains one of the Police Service’s highest priorities. Dedicated detectives within our Public Protection Branch continue to work tirelessly with colleagues across the UK, Ireland, and internationally to detect offenders, safeguard victims, and prevent further harm.
“Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck, Crime Department, said: “We acknowledge the serious concerns raised by the Police Ombudsman and accept that, at the time, our systems and resources were not where they needed to be. The officers involved worked under immense pressure, and while their dedication was never in question, the service simply did not have the capacity to deliver the level of responsiveness that victims and families rightly expect.
“We have listened, we have learned, and we are acting. Improvements have already been made to ensure that those who exploit and abuse children online are identified more swiftly, investigated more effectively, and brought to justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our community.
“I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the dedicated team that investigated this particularly challenging and complex case.
“Their commitment never wavered and was recognised by the sentencing judge. They built strong relationships with victims throughout the investigation and remained by their side throughout the criminal justice process.
“We self-referred this case to the Police Ombudsman because it was the right thing to do — to shine a light on the very real pressures facing our specialist teams and the consequences that can arise when resources do not match demand.
“We will take all learning on board and act upon it with the resources available to us, but meaningful and sustained investment in policing is key to achieving lasting positive change and ensuring we can continue to protect children effectively in the online world.”
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland will continue to review and strengthen its approach to tackling online child sexual abuse and exploitation to ensure that the findings identified in this case are not repeated.”
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