PSNI to recruit 1,500 part-time officers

The PSNI are set to recruit 1,500 part-time police officers for community policing throughout Northern Ireland – although the selection process will not be made under the 50:50 basis which the Patten Report imposed on full-time recruitment.

However in line with the Patten Recommendations, police recruiters want applications from groups which are under-represented in the service – such as women and Catholics. The police service has said that the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 does not allow for recruitment of these part-time posts to be carried out on the basis of 50:50 representation.

The police have also stressed that this recruitment process "does not have any implication for plans in relation to PSNI’s full-time reserve". Once trained officers will be deployed in a variety of roles including beat patrol and assistance in local crime prevention – but will not be involved in public order policing.

The recruitment scheme will be rolled out in four of the 29 District Command Units - Newtownabbey, Lisburn, Coleraine and Banbridge. This initial pilot will concentrate on recruiting around 100 people to undertake part-time police work. Forty-eight sheet posters, Adshel advertising boards and newspaper advertising will appear in the four designated districts for one month, starting Monday January 27.

Professor Desmond Rea, the Chairman of the Policing Board, said: “These new posts offer a real opportunity for people to become involved in policing in their local community. The part-time officers will be people who know, understand and have a stake in their area which will help them tackle policing issues affecting day-to-day quality of life.

"Working alongside policing colleagues, these new officers will provide key support in tackling crime in partnership with the local community.”

The PSNI’s Senior Director of Human Resources Joe Stewart said the move would foster partnership with the local communities and increase resources in the fight against crime.

“The expansion of our current part-time professional policing resource from its current level of just under 1,000 to 2,500 within the next three years will create an invaluable additional policing presence in local areas," he said.

"These are really good opportunities for people from many different walks of life, including returners to work and those up to the age of 61 years, to use their local knowledge and understanding to make a real contribution to the quality of life in their areas. With excellent rates of pay together with state-of-the-art training, we are expecting significant interest in this first set of jobs.”

Local advertising will be used to attract people either living in or having a clear connection – such as family; work or study ties – with the four districts. Following assessment by an independent recruitment agency, The Consensia Partnership, successful appointees will train to provide policing support of between four to 12 hours a week helping full-time PSNI officers on the ground. Graduates can expect a rate of £9.76 per hour plus a £41 per month attendance payment.

(GMcG)