THE Independent Commission for Police Complaints in Northern Ireland is concerned about the number of head injuries caused by RUC plastic baton rounds and has called for the police to receive more training.
According to its annual report published yesterday, the body investigated 2,540 complaints last year, an increase of 9 per cent on the previous year, with the majority alleging assault.
The report says 31 cases arising from the use of plastic baton rounds were investigated, most of them linked to the Drumcree standoff last July. To reduce the number of head injuries, the commission recommends a new charge of disobedience be brought against RUC officers who fail to aim a baton at a person's arms or legs.
The report also reveals that the RUC Chief Constable asked it to investigate four "serious matters" where no complaints had been made.
Of the 2,335 complaint cases finalised by the commission, 591 were withdrawn and 499 were dispensed with. Some 12 per cent of the eases resulted in criminal or disciplinary charges or informal action.
A survey conducted for the commission last year revealed a marked increase in confidence in the RUC among Catholics, rising from 26 per cent in 1995, to 44 per cent last year. However, the report notes that confidence among Catholics was still significantly below that of Protestants.
Some 57 per cent of respondents to the survey thought the commission was independent of the police, with 32 per cent believing it was part of the RUC.