Investigating the Past
The Historical Enquiries Team (HET) is unique in policing and its work is unprecedented. It is a special investigative unit attached to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It was established to re-examine the deaths of thousands of people in the civil unrest in Northern Ireland between 1968 and the signing of the Belfast Agreement in April 1998. It is an independent unit which answers directly to the Chief Constable. The scope and scale of its work is exceptional with more than 2,500 cases spanning three decades.
The HET approached us in 2009 and asked if we might be able to conduct research with families who had lost loved ones during those three decades – and whose murders had been re-examined by the HET. We were selected over other firms because of our ability to conduct highly demanding research work, the maturity and sensitivity of our fieldwork partners, and our technology platforms that allowed us to adopt highly secure processes for sample handling and data management.
On completion of the third wave of research, Jeffrey Peel, Managing Director of Quadriga Consulting, said that the survey indicated that the overwhelming number of families surveyed had derived some benefit from the HET’s investigations.
“This is the third year that we have conducted family-satisfaction research for the HET. This year, we interviewed many more family representatives – 190 this year compared to 143 last year and 116 in 2009. Satisfaction with the HET has been high in previous years, but this year we saw marked improvements. Over 90% of family members – across all community groups – indicated that they were ‘satisfied’, or ‘very satisfied’ with the HET.
“We also noted a significant increase in satisfaction with the quality of the reports provided to families. The feedback from families is that most derive benefit from the HET’s work.”
Headed by David Cox, formerly of the London Metropolitan Police, the HET consists of a team of 100 investigators and supporting staff, and a budget of £30 million. Mr Cox commented about the 3rd wave of survey findings:
“I am very pleased with the results. Sometimes, we are the first contact about a fatality that a family has had in 40 years and I am particularly pleased that the survey found we have acted professionally and with sensitivity.
“Families need answers now and our remit is to try to answer their questions as fully as possible. It is not the case that we lack external oversight; we are answerable to the Chief Constable and the Policing Board and to the relatives of the victims and they are of paramount importance.”
