A victims' group in the North of Ireland has called for the police ombudsman to be dismissed from office.
Relatives for Justice, based in Belfast, has called on the North's justice minister, David Ford, to sack Al Hutchinson after a leaked draft report into the workings of the ombudsman's office heaped new criticisms on its performance.
The ombudsman's office is intended to provide an independent, impartial police complaints system but has come under fire over its operation.
The latest critique was in a draft report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate which was leaked to the investigative website, The Detail.
Criticisms carried in the report include claims that Mr. Hutchinson has lost the trust of his senior investigators and that some investigators asked to be disassociated from reports they had worked on because their findings were changed.
It also claims that the lack of independence of the ombudsman's office under Hutchinson was of such concern that thebody should be suspended from investigating Troubles-related murders until further reviews of the organization are carried out.
Mark Thompson, director for Relatives For Justice, said the findings of the report were "devastating for truth recovery and the search for justice."
"The findings of fundamental compromise of independence (of the Police ombudsman's office) have far reaching implications," he said.
"It is clear that the hands of Special Branch that directed killings in the past, are the same hands that have also reached into the heart of the police ombudsman's office to prevent truth and justice.
"RFJ has long known of the problems in the police ombudsman's office. Of deep concern for victims of the conflict will be the fact that we now have no independent mechanism for addressing historic cases.
"Former Special Branch (detectives) are investigating officers in the HET (Historical Enquiries Team) and now we realize that the ombudsman's office is fundamentally compromised.
"As it stands, we have two investigating bodies incapable of delivering justice as they are controlled by those same people under scrutiny."
Thompson called for immediate action.
"We will be making immediate representations to the European Council of Ministers on this matter. There must be accountability. This report must be acted on immediately. That we have devolved administration means that itneed not be delayed."
Sinn Féin justice spokesperson, Gerry Kelly, also called for Hutchinson to go.
"Public confidence in the police ombudsman is already at rock bottom and it is important that swift action is taken to restore the credibility of this crucially important policing structure," he said.
A spokesperson for the police ombudsman's office said it would not be appropriate to comment on the report in advance of it being officially released.
