22/09/2003

Security Minister announces review of PSNI recruitment

Security Minister, Jane Kennedy, today announced a review of the effectiveness of the police recruitment arrangements.

The temporary provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 - those which provide for 50:50 recruitment and lateral entry to the police service - are due to expire in March 2004, unless they are renewed.

Announcing the review, Jane Kennedy said: "The Government intends to carry out a wide-ranging consultation exercise over the coming weeks. I will be taking submissions from interested parties and offering the main parties the opportunity for discussion."

The Act provides for the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy to legislate to renew the provisions.

However, before doing so, Mr Murphy is required to consider the progress that has been made towards achieving a police service which is representative of the Northern Ireland population.

Today's news follows the decision by the Policing Board to accept a temporary scrapping of the 50:50 recruitment policy for PSNI officers in July.

The decision was taken because of a lack of experienced detectives on the force. The new provision allows 65 officers be brought in from police units across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

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