Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL]

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 12:30 pm on 30 January 2003.

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Photo of Lord Williams of Mostyn Lord Williams of Mostyn President of the Council, Privy Council Office, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords 12:30, 30 January 2003

My Lords, I shall deal with one or two misconceptions. We dealt with fitness on Report. I made it plain that the physical competence test will not be applied to applicants in the current recruitment competition, but I hope that I also made it plain that all trainees will be required to pass the test before they are attested. In other words, there is no reduction in the standard of physical competence required of police officers. Trainees are simply given more time to reach the required standard.

Of course there is intimidation. Gerry Kelly has already been referred to. On 26th September 2002, he said:

"I am making it directly clear now that there should be no intimidation or threats against new recruits".

On 25th September, on the Radio Ulster 3 p.m. news, he said,

"we have made it clear in the past and we make it directly clearer now, there should be no intimidation or threats against any recruits involved here".

I do not think he could have put that plainer.

The issue of support staff was resolved. The Chief Constable's remarks were made after his first 100 days in service, but the campaign to which he referred had been in the spring and summer of 2002, before Grafton started work. The noble Viscount was good enough to say that I was right and that he had misunderstood the situation.

The noble Lord, Lord Hylton, spoke of Roman Catholics and Protestants. I remind your Lordships, as I think I said on Report, that Section 46 of the 2000 Act says:

"one half shall be persons who are treated as Roman Catholic; and one half shall be persons who are not so treated".

The Act does not speak of Roman Catholics and Protestants.

Is 50:50 working? If it were not to work, do we need a change in the law? The answer to the first question is yes and the answer to the second question is no. We have had a very good response to the police recruitment campaigns. The appointment of sufficient qualified candidates to fill the police training college is at a level around 50 per cent above that envisaged by Patten. Grafton Recruitment was appointed only in September 2002. It deals with civilians and has produced enough candidates to meet the requirements.

On the second question, Section 46(3) of the 2000 Act already gives the Secretary of State the power to make a set-aside order. Section 46(2) says:

"The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Board and the Chief Constable, by order amend subsection (1)"— that is the 50:50 provision—

"in its application to the making of appointments under section 39".

Before making such an order, he has to consult the Policing Board and the Chief Constable. The discretionary power is already there, so the amendment is not needed. In any event, we are doing well. Something optimistic is happening. We ought to rejoice.