Police Federation claim policing is in “deep crisis”

The Chairman of the Police Federation has said he believes policing in Northern Ireland is in “deep crisis”.

Chairman Jimmy Spratt said that experienced police officers who had left the force as part of Chris Patten’s policing reforms have now returned to work in it as civilians.

As part of the changeover from the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, hundreds of officers accepted early retirement and voluntary redundancy packages.

Departments with officers possessing specialist skills, such as fingerprinting, which can take up to seven years of training, have, according to the Federation, now returned as civilians to cover the staff deficit.

According to the Federation, police numbers have fallen below Chris Patten’s peacetime recommendation.

Mr Spratt said: “Patten’s recommendation for police levels in a totally peaceful situation was 7,500. We are not in a totally peaceful situation and we number around 6970, which is roughly 500 police officers below what is required.

“The British Government pushed through Patten’s reform on policing without thinking it through properly. They rushed it through in a matter of months to placate the SDLP and to get their support for the Policing Board.

“Policing I believe is in deep crisis and it will be towards the end of 2003 before the numbers will begin to rise.”

The future of the Full time Reserve is also high on the Federation’s list of concerns.

The Reserve was reportedly due to be phased out this month.

However due to shortages, many officers have had to work overtime and work as many as 70 hours a week. Mr Spratt said: “These officers and their families don’t know what is going to happen. Their morale is in the pits.”

(AMcE)