THE RUC should be regulated by an independent civilian complaints body to improve community relations in Northern Ireland, according to Prof Dermot Walsh of the University of Limerick.
Prof Walsh told delegates that out of 1,235 complaints from people arrested under emergency legislation between 1990 and 1992, none was upheld.
In a joint piper with Prof Brice Dickson of the University of Ulster, Prof Walsh said it would be unwise to attribute the failure of the system to one facet. "Presumably, the practice of having one member of the RUC investigate a complaint against another member of the RUC is a major contributing factor."
He added that confidence in the RUC could be boosted if complaints were handled by an independent ombudsman type office, "and appointing to that office an individual whose independence, impartiality and qualifications command the respect of both sides of the community divide
".