Former NI chief supports HET extension
Former Northern Ireland chief constable Sir Hugh Orde has said the
Historical Enquiries Team (HET) should be retained despite proposed
cuts to the forces budget of around £1 million a week.
Former Northern Ireland chief constable Sir Hugh Orde has said the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) should be retained despite proposed cuts to the forces budget of around £1 million a week.
Now president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Sir Hugh said he believes the HET set up in 2005 to re-examine 3,269 murders from the Troubles offers good value-for-money.
Receiving an honorary degree from the University of Ulster last Friday (July 2), Sir Hugh said it would be a shame if it had to stop doing its business.
Sir Hugh said if one looks at the number of people dealt with by the HET, it is small money compared to other methods of resolution which are hugely expensive.
Work was estimated to be completed by 2011, but has yet to begin on more than 1,300 cases.
In March, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Matt Baggott said he would seek extra resources from Stormont to enable the HET to progress its work.
He said: My ambition is to keep it going for another three years because thats what victims want and are entitled to.