Recommendations of the Steven's Report
1. The "National Intelligence Model" should be introduced in the PSNI and supported by the necessary information technology.
2. The PSNI should carry out a full review of all its procedures for investigating terrorist offences with a view to establishing a dedicated unit along the lines of the Metropolitan Police model (recommended in Stevens's first report).
3. An Assistant Chief Constable with single responsibility for the Anti-Terrorist Branch should be appointed and be answerable directly to the Chief Constable.
4. There should be Service Level Agreements between all departments and external partner agencies to ensure clarity and understanding of each other's roles.
5. The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) of murder and other serious crimes should receive full co-operation and relevant intelligence from Special Branch particularly where Covert Human Intelligence Sources (agents) are suspects for murder or other serious crime.
6. Any conflict between the investigation of crime and the protection of agents should be managed through a decision-making process overseen by the Regional Assistant Chief Constable.
7. Regionally-based Special Branch Officers should come under the command of the Regional Assistant Chief Constable.
8. All Regional Special Branch Officers of detective inspector rank and above should attend the Senior Investigating Officer's course.
9. A prerequisite for selection to Special Branch should be evidence of investigative experience.
10. Guidelines on the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources (agents) in countering terrorism should be completed as a matter of urgency. These must take account of the existing Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
11. An internal strategic review should be undertaken to ensure that Covert Human Intelligence Sources are only employed to achieve a proportionate coverage of the terrorist threat.
12. A full review of training for all agent handlers should be introduced, including integrity issues and the keeping of records.
13. The investigation of murder should be carried out in accordance with the Association of Chief police Officers' guidelines on Homicide Investigation.
14. Senior Investigating Officers should attend the national accredited SIO course and receive critical incident training on scenarios relevant to Northern Ireland.
15. The PSNI should carry out a full review of all their methods and processes of exhibit management.
16. An overarching strategy group of all relevant agencies (Gold Group) should be formed at the outset of any major investigation to ensure effective intelligence sharing and to respond to community concerns.
17. All Senior Investigating Officers dealing with terrorist murders must be adequately vetted so that they can receive and deal with any sensitive intelligence.
18. An internal investigation department should be established by the PSNI so that any allegations or suspicions of collusion and corruption can be tackled proactively as well as reactively.
19. Integrity testing and quality assurance checks should be carried out to ensure complete confidence is maintained in the security of source intelligence.
20. A senior liaison committee should support future inquiries of this nature. This should include senior representation from those agencies involved to ensure proper disclosure and accountability in the decision-making process.
21. An independent audit and review of my recommendations relating to the (British) army and the PSNI should be undertaken within an agreed time-frame. This process should include recommendations arising from the Blelloch report (which drew up guidelines for the handling of agents)