Some 1,500 complaints have been made against the RUC since Ms Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, started her work.
Half of these complaints alleged assaults by officers, 22 per cent alleged an officer's failure of duty and 11 per cent alleged incivility by an officer. Malpractice allegations accounted for 2 per cent of complaints.
The office started work just over three months ago. Ms O'Loan said the most important thing about her role was the speed in which she could act.
"If something happens, the police move out and I move in and that's the difference." She said that if an incident similar to the Abbeylara siege happened in Northern Ireland, her team could immediately move in and confiscate all relevant evidence, including officers' uniforms and vehicles. This type of investigation was more likely to lead to proceedings against people than a public inquiry, she said.
"If something happens, I can call myself in. I do not need to wait for a complaint," she said. "You could get situations where people are afraid to complain and you have to be able to deal with that."
The Police Ombudsman was speaking at a conference organised by the Labour Lawyers' Group in Dublin last night. RUC officers had been very co-operative for the most part, said Ms O'Loan. "It's an offence to obstruct, impede, assault or restrict me, a criminal offence, but we haven't got to that stage. We have got the odd officer who has wanted not to co-operate, but ultimately they have to. We have the powers of a constable so we can do to them what they can do to us."
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has a budget of £5.7 million with a staff of 105 people. Ms O'Loan is seeking another 15 staff. She said she was disappointed she did not get one application from the Republic when she advertised for staff.
"I'm going to advertise shortly and I will advertise in the South again. I would like to bring in more skills right across as wide a skills base as I can."
Ms O'Loan said she had 500 police officers to interview at this point and was reaching the stage of recommending disciplinary action and prosecution in a number of cases.
"I think we will show results if there is police misconduct. But not yet. A criminal investigation is a slower process than many of us would want it to be."
