Relieved - but not surprised: chief constable on probe into public office allegations
George Hamilton says the year-long investigation had caused unnecessary stress - but he always knew he would be cleared.
Last updated 2nd May 2018
PSNI Chief Constable, George Hamilton, said today (Wednesday) that an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office had completely vindicated him.
He and a number of other senior officers were subject to the investigation by the region's Police Ombudsman.
Michael Maguire's probe examined how the PSNI handled a bribery inquiry into the awarding of a contract to supply vehicles to the force.
Mr Hamilton said he, Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris and other PSNI officers subject to the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland probe had been exonerated.
Former West Yorkshire chief constable Mark Gilmore, an ex-PSNI officer, and retired PSNI assistant chief constable Duncan McCausland were among nine people interviewed by detectives in the 2014 police investigation into bribery and misconduct in public office in relation to the vehicles supply contract.
No charges were ultimately brought against any of the men - all of whom denied any wrongdoing.
Dr Maguire subsequently received complaints from a number of those investigated in the vehicle contracts probe in 2014, including Mr McCausland and Mr Gilmore.
Mr Hamilton, Mr Harris and current Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton were all investigated by the ombudsman.
The chief constable said he is relieved – but not at all surprise by the outcome –
“We always had confidence in our integrity and the professionalism of our original investigation.”
“I guess if we had something to worry about it would be more stressful – but when you know you’ve attacked with integrity then it gives you the strength to put your head down and keep going.
"They were very serious complaints – altering records and doing very intrusive, covert activity without authorizations.
“It wasn’t pleasant to have this hanging in the background because whenever people put it out there in such a public way – the public don’t understand all the details and they just see chief constable under investigation."
He also told us they were entitled to make the complaints - but wished they had done it in a different way:
“There is a degree of sadness that former colleagues got to this point – that they have set themselves up for such public commentary when we were just doing our job – we got a lot of public criticism.
"People can make allegations, they can go public - as these complainants choose to do - and we, because of our professionalism, have to stand back, bite our lip, say very little and allow the ombudsman to do their job.
"We did all of that, but at the core, at the heart of it all, we knew he had nothing to fear."
He also said the public criticism he received was part and parcel with his job - but that his priority will always be protecting the public.
"We’re here to protect the public and keep people safe – that’s what gets us out of bed in the morning – we get a buzz from doing it – and when you’ve attacked with integrity there’s a certain comfort from that."
“For the public to have confidence in their police service, it is important that all officers at every rank can be held to account.
"We co-operated fully with the Ombudsman and let due process run its course."