Dear Northern Ireland Policing Board,

Could I please be provided with all details pertaining to the “ Fundamental change of process “ that was agreed by the resources Committee on the 30th July 2020 regarding the NIPB’s administration and application of the PSNI Injury Benefit Regulations 2006. To include but not limited to:

[a] How many initial SMP assessments have been conducted applying this new process?

[b] How many initial IMR assessments have been conducted applying this new process?

[c] How many reconsiderations have been conducted applying this new process?.

[d] All correspondence between the Board and the Police Federation of Northern Ireland informing them of this new process.

[e] All correspondence between the Board and Edwards & co Solicitors informing them of this new process.

[f] All correspondence between the Board and the Department of Justice discussing/informing them of this new change of process.

[g] The communications plan/strategy agreed by the Resources Committee that governs this new process

[h] The Process Maps which outlined the process for the consideration of initial applications considered by the SMP and IMR

[I] The Process Map which detailed the process for the Committee’s consideration of the Injury on Duty Reconsideration Cases under Regulation 31[2] PSNI & PSNI Reserve [ injury benefit ] Regulations 2006

[j] The document that provided the statutory under pinning for this fundamental change of process.

[k] The “ Informative Memorandum “ Communicating the change of process to be shared with members of the Resources Committee for their information.

[l] The document informing the SMP that he could no longer make “decisions" under the Injury Regs only “ recommendations" and supporting legal rational for this fundamental change.

Yours faithfully,

HUGH CATHERWOOD

Dear Northern Ireland Policing Board,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Northern Ireland Policing Board's handling of my FOI request 'The Fundamental change of process for IOD awards'.

My request should have been answered on the 9th of July 2024. I'm not sure what I have to do next.
Maybe you could help me
Thank you

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/t...

Yours faithfully,

HUGH CATHERWOOD

Dear NIPB FOI,
I requested this information initially on the 11th of June 2024.

6 months has almost passed and I have heard absolutely nothing from the NIPB.

If you have not responded by return of this notification I will be reporting you to the Information Commissioner

Yours sincerely,

HUGH CATHERWOOD

Dear NIPB FOI,
POINTS FOR CLARIFICATION.

Answer [a]

498 assessments conducted by the SMP from Aug 2020 - May 2024. Were these applicants informed of the new process prior to their appointment with the SMP. If the answer is no could you provide a brief explanation why they were not informed.

Thank you for your link to the Mckee Judgement, I have read the Judgement but can find no reference to the NIPB or the 2006 Injury Benefit Regulations so I am genuinely struggling to understand your answer to [a] so

In layman’s terms could you explain how the “principles” of this Judgement applied/apply to the work of the Police Administration Directorate. More importantly could you explain once again in simple layman’s terms how this Judgement replaced the statutory obligations conferred on Board Members by the Police Service Of Northern Ireland Injury Benefit Regulations 2006 and /or how this Judgement bestowed additional powers and or obligations on Board Members.

Do you now consider this Judgement to have precedence over the 2006 regulations.

Could you also outline the exact differences between how an applicant was processed before August 2020 and subsequently after that date.

Is the process that was introduced in August 2020 still being used today.

If this information has already been published on your publication site then accept my apologies and please direct me to the relevant page.

Are you conducting an internal review of this case as requested on 27th August 2024.

Yours sincerely,

HUGH CATHERWOOD