An independent report into the PSNI’s handling of the Bobby Storey funeral which found there was no bias in its actions shows the need for elected representatives to follow due process, Alliance Policing Board member John Blair MLA has said.

Mr Blair was speaking following the publication of the report by the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, which stated there was nothing to suggest any bias towards ‘one community or another in the way the PSNI dealt with this funeral’.

“Today’s report is evidence, if it was needed, the reaction from some political quarters to the policing actions in relation to this funeral was disproportionate in the extreme,” he said.

“It is the responsibility of everyone to help build confidence in policing. It is not good enough for elected representatives and others to simply take perceived grievances and amplify them – it is up to them to lead and follow due process to allow the police to be properly scrutinised, instead of jumping on a bandwagon. This report has carried out that scrutiny and I hope people are now mindful of the consequences of their previous statements.

“That is not to say the PSNI was perfect in its handling of the events around this funeral, even if they are not ‘especially serious failings’, according to the report. I will use my role on the Policing Board to help ensure recommendations on consistent engagement by the PSNI and its record keeping in particular are followed. is a matter of utmost importance the Policing Board is now allowed to focus on its work looking at issues that are in the interests of all our people and their safety.”