The PSNI has unveiled a new Race and Ethnicity Action Plan aimed at strengthening trust and improving relationships with ethnic minority communities across the region.

Announced on Thursday (7 August), the action plan follows a public consultation carried out in 2024, during which community leaders, advocacy groups and policing partners provided input on how the PSNI could better serve Northern Ireland's increasingly diverse population.

The plan will be delivered through a number of work-streams, led by senior officers and staff. These include: Internal Culture and Inclusivity; Community Engagement and Relations; Professionalism, Powers and Policy; Protection, Partnership and Justice; Performance and Accountability. 

Police have also committed to making five key commitments:

• Commitment to being an anti-racist police service;

• Commitment to people from an ethnic minority background feeling safe, valued by and engaged in policing;

• Commitment to officers and staff from an ethnic minority background feeling safe, valued and are treated fairly and equally in the workplace.

• Commitment to being a police service that respects and is trusted by people from ethnic minority communities; • Commitment to excellence in diversity, equality, representation and inclusivity.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "This plan represents our ongoing commitment to our ethnic minority communities ensuring that everyone in Northern Ireland feels safe, supported and respected. We recognise the importance of listening to all communities and working together to build a policing service that truly reflects the diversity of the society we serve.

"Recent events have demonstrated the need for decisive action and clear leadership to stamp out racism which clearly exists in communities in Northern Ireland. We are confident this action plan will drive the work of the Police Service and help us to work more effectively with ethnic minority communities and partners."

The Chief Constable added: "The Race and Ethnicity Action Plan aligns with PSNI's broader equality, diversity and inclusivity and our work through our 'Policing with the Community' vision, ensuring that tangible actions to address race and ethnicity are embedded across all areas of policing."

A copy of the Race and Ethnicity Action Plan can be found here.