PSNI: Catholic Recruits

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:45 pm on 24 March 2025.

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Photo of Naomi Long Naomi Long Alliance 2:45, 24 March 2025

There are two schools of thought on why people are deterred from membership of the PSNI or, indeed, progression. The first is that there is a fundamental flaw in the organisation's recruitment practices. The bald numbers of applications and successful applicants suggest that that is not the case. There is a wider issue, and that is one of attrition over time: people, because of threats received, intimidation, the disconnect between their community and the work that they do, find it difficult to maintain their working arrangements. As a society, we need to consider that. If, however, there is evidence of a culture in the organisation that militates against career progression through that organisation or against people wanting to remain in the organisation, we should not be blind to that issue. We should address it, look at it carefully and ensure that that is no longer the case.