Policing in Northern Ireland has been, and remains, one of the most contentious issues on both sides of the community. Intolerance and mutual distrust between the communities has impacted the PSNI's approach to policing and the communities' attitudes to policing. This division was highly visible in the negotiation of the Belfast Agreement in April 1997, when the political parties couldn't find common ground on the policing issue. As a result, The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland was set up and tasked with developing a framework that "provides an opportunity for a new beginning to policing in Northern Ireland with a police service capable of attracting and sustaining support from the community as a whole."

The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland (Patten Commission) included well recognised experts from a wide spectrum of the national and international community. They conducted an exhaustive study of policing issues in Northern Ireland and the resultant report has been recognised by law enforcement officials throughout the world as an outstanding research product and report. Their review included:

• private meetings with key governmental officials including the police
• meetings with non-governmental organisations impacted by the policing issues
• open public meetings that involved tens of thousands of private citizens
• extensive public opinion surveys regarding the police service
• site visits in Northern Ireland and additional nations

The report, with its detailed analysis and 175 recommendations for revisions to policing strategies in Northern Ireland, focuses on key areas such as human rights, accountability, policing with the community, public order policing and numerous comprehensive changes to the policing systems.

In the final chapter of the Patten Report titled "Overseeing Change", the report recommended the establishment of an Oversight Commissioner to:

• ensure that the recommendations would be implemented comprehensively and faithfully
• assure the community that all aspects of the report are being implemented and being seen to be implemented

The caveat of the Commission that the Oversight Commissioner come from a country other than the United Kingdom or Ireland was a signal of the importance of an independent status for the Commissioner.

In May 2000, Tom Constantine, the former head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and an eminent expert in policing, was appointed as the Oversight Commissioner. One of the first, and most important, tasks for the Oversight Commissioner was to identify and recruit an expert team of leading academic and law enforcement executives to assist in the evaluation process and the production of periodic reports on the progress being made. The Oversight Commissioner successfully enlisted the support of some of the world's leading experts in the area of professional policing and human rights.

Although the background and experience of this Oversight Commissioner and the key advisors are certainly sufficient to ensure that the evaluation process is at the highest level of professionalism and objectivity, it was decided that it was essential to go further. The Oversight Commissioner enlisted the assistance of the International Association of Chiefs of Police to provide expert advice. The IACP is the pre-eminent association of police executives in the world and has agreed to establish a "Blue Ribbon" Committee of active police executives to act as a consultative body to ensure that the reports of the Oversight Commissioner are consistent with best practices and model police policies.

In February 2003 the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, announced an extended two year term of the Oversight Commission for Policing Reform in Northern Ireland, meeting the original five year term recommended by Patten. At this time, Tom Constantine announced his intention to retire in December 2003 and the Secrretary of State invited Al Hutchinson, existing Chief of staff, to take up the position of Oversight Commissioner. Al Hutchinson accepted and commenced his post on 1st January 2004. A further 2 year extension was announced in February 2005 and the oversight process is now due for completion in May of 2007.