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03/07/2003
Policing Board approves 'detective' recruitment request
Members of the Policing Board today unanimously approved a request from PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde to temporarily scrap the 50:50 recruitment criteria in order to bring aboard 65 much-needed detectives.
The approval was made in line with a new provision in the Police (NI) Act 2003 which allows, in exceptional circumstances, for officers at constable level to be recruited from other police services other than through the 50:50 route.
Commenting on the Board's decision, Chairman, Professor Desmond Rea, said: "This is a necessary measure to fill an acute skills gap for experienced Detective Constables in the PSNI.
"The Human Resource Strategy and recent independent reports on policing clearly identified a shortage of skilled detectives. This skills shortage is having a serious impact on the capability of the PSNI to be effective in tackling crime and managing ongoing investigations."
The 50:50 recruitment process was recommended in the Patten Report, as part of the Good Friday Agreement, because of an insufficient number of Catholics in the police service. It was hoped that this would redress the balance, however the PSNI has continued to be undermanned resulting in today's decision.
The detectives will be recruited from other police forces throughout the rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland.
(MB)
The approval was made in line with a new provision in the Police (NI) Act 2003 which allows, in exceptional circumstances, for officers at constable level to be recruited from other police services other than through the 50:50 route.
Commenting on the Board's decision, Chairman, Professor Desmond Rea, said: "This is a necessary measure to fill an acute skills gap for experienced Detective Constables in the PSNI.
"The Human Resource Strategy and recent independent reports on policing clearly identified a shortage of skilled detectives. This skills shortage is having a serious impact on the capability of the PSNI to be effective in tackling crime and managing ongoing investigations."
The 50:50 recruitment process was recommended in the Patten Report, as part of the Good Friday Agreement, because of an insufficient number of Catholics in the police service. It was hoped that this would redress the balance, however the PSNI has continued to be undermanned resulting in today's decision.
The detectives will be recruited from other police forces throughout the rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland.
(MB)
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