Two further independent reviews carried out by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Homicide Working Group (HWG) supported by experts from a number of police forces have praised the Kenova team for their victim-focused approach.
The reviews into Kenova – the overarching name for all of the current investigations being led by former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, and a progress report on Operation Denton, also known as the Barnard Review, were carried out by the NPCC during the last quarter of 2020.
The Kenova review document opens with a quote cited by the Review Team from Mr Boutcher: “I strongly believe every family that lost a loved one during The Troubles should have access to an independent and full examination of their case. I am an advocate for a criminal investigation of legacy cases and where evidence is recovered against offenders for a criminal justice process to then proceed. All victims deserve such an investigation, not merely a few.”
Both the Executive Summary and Conclusions for the Kenova Review the Executive Summary and Conclusions of the Denton Progress Review are available to read here.
The Kenova review Executive Summary comments on the complexity of the issues faced by the investigation team and unwavering focus on victims.
It reads: "The review team members, all experienced in their professional fields, have never encountered an enquiry of this complexity and scale. The challenges are compounded by the difficult operating environment and the understandable sensitivities relating to conducting legacy investigations in Northern Ireland.
"The paramount priority for Kenova is to place victims’ families and survivors at the heart of every decision and action.
"The drive to establish the truth in relation to these crimes has resulted in hitherto unseen levels of engagement from sections of the community that have previously been 'hard to reach'.
"A powerful comment made to the review team was that; 'It is the journey that is important, not necessarily the destination'. This is a humbling statement as it originates from the family of a victim and reflects the wholly understandable determination on their part to establish the truth in relation to their loved one's death."