The PSNI has drafted a new policy on the use of Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificates.
PII certificates are used by state agencies to withhold information they do not want the public to see.
The use of certificates contributed to the collapse of several high-profile legacy inquests last year, including that of murdered Co Derry GAA official Sean Brown.
Before his inquest was abandoned a coroner issued a gist, or summary, which revealed more than 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (Liam McBurney/PA)
The British government later launched a retrospective judicial review of the decision by the coroner to provide the damning gist.
PII certificates have also been issued in non-conflict related cases, including the death of teenager Noah Donohoe.
The 14-year-old went missing during a bike trip from his home in south Belfast in June 2020.
His body was found in a north Belfast storm drain six days later.
Suspicions surrounding the teenager’s death were compounded by an application by the PSNI for PII certificates to withhold information from his inquest.
Speaking at the Policing Board on Thursday, Mr Boutcher said he fully accepts “and will always comply with the PSNI responsibility to protect sensitive information and national security”.
“The current approach to disclosing sensitive information such as redacting information on the grounds of national security and public (interest) immunity certificates is much stronger here than I have experienced in the UK,” he said.
“Those differences only serve to generate suspicion and undermine confidence in policing.
“These processes will improve.”
Mr Boutcher revealed police have drafted a new PII policy which has been shared with the “Northern Ireland Office and reviewer of terrorism legislation and the legislate in Northern Ireland that manages national security”.
“That work is ongoing,” he said.
Mr Boutcher said the policy will be published once it has been agreed.
Sinn Féin Policing Board member Gerry Kelly later referred to PII certificates.
“The terrible example of how badly it was abused was around the young Noah Donahoe case where PIIs were introduced, nothing to do with the conflict…I am glad that you are going to publish, as you have said, a PII document, a lot of people will be wating strongly for that,” he said.