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28/03/2007
House of Lords vote for ‘50/50’ police force
The House of Lords has renewed the 50/50 recruitment rule for the PSNI by a majority of 44.
It puts into practice a recommendation made in 1999 by Lord Patten that the local police force should be split evenly between Catholics and Protestants.
The result of the vote was 141 to 97. Former UUP leader Lord Trimble, however, criticised the move saying reverse discrimination would be counter-productive.
Government Northern Ireland spokesman Lord Rooker disagreed saying: “Nobody who has been appointed to the PSNI in the last six years, has failed to be done on merit.
“All of them have gone through the merit, all of them have qualified to be United Kingdom police officers.”
He continued: “Every one who has been appointed a police officer has got through the merit bar… they have all been chosen on the 50/50 basis from the highest on the compartment of Catholics and non-Catholics.
“Nobody has been appointed from the Catholic community that it is not qualified to be a United Kingdom police officer and neither will they be.”
The Patten Report was developed to try and encourage a more balanced Police Service of Northern Ireland, and means 50% of all new recruits must be from the Catholic community.
(JM/KMcA)
It puts into practice a recommendation made in 1999 by Lord Patten that the local police force should be split evenly between Catholics and Protestants.
The result of the vote was 141 to 97. Former UUP leader Lord Trimble, however, criticised the move saying reverse discrimination would be counter-productive.
Government Northern Ireland spokesman Lord Rooker disagreed saying: “Nobody who has been appointed to the PSNI in the last six years, has failed to be done on merit.
“All of them have gone through the merit, all of them have qualified to be United Kingdom police officers.”
He continued: “Every one who has been appointed a police officer has got through the merit bar… they have all been chosen on the 50/50 basis from the highest on the compartment of Catholics and non-Catholics.
“Nobody has been appointed from the Catholic community that it is not qualified to be a United Kingdom police officer and neither will they be.”
The Patten Report was developed to try and encourage a more balanced Police Service of Northern Ireland, and means 50% of all new recruits must be from the Catholic community.
(JM/KMcA)
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23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
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Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
08 February 2007
Chief Constable 'appointed on merit'
During a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board yesterday, members discussed the advertisement published by the SDLP in the Irish News on January 26 2007, regarding the appointment of the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, in 2002.
Chief Constable 'appointed on merit'
During a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board yesterday, members discussed the advertisement published by the SDLP in the Irish News on January 26 2007, regarding the appointment of the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, in 2002.
03 July 2006
Baroness Paisley to take seat in Lords
The wife of DUP leader Ian Paisley is to be the latest member of the House of Lords to take her seat. Eileen Paisley, will be known as Baroness Paisley of St George`s, the name of the Belfast City Council ward where she was first elected in 1967.
Baroness Paisley to take seat in Lords
The wife of DUP leader Ian Paisley is to be the latest member of the House of Lords to take her seat. Eileen Paisley, will be known as Baroness Paisley of St George`s, the name of the Belfast City Council ward where she was first elected in 1967.
03 November 2010
Patten Awarded Honorary Degree
One of the most popular British politicians to have been involved in Ireland has been given a university accolade. British peer, Chris Patten (pictured) received an honorary doctorate of laws at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin this week.
Patten Awarded Honorary Degree
One of the most popular British politicians to have been involved in Ireland has been given a university accolade. British peer, Chris Patten (pictured) received an honorary doctorate of laws at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin this week.
29 July 2002
Republican threat on Catholic PSNI officer slammed
An SDLP member of the Policing Board has slammed republicans after a Catholic PSNI recruit in Newry was forced to flee his home at the weekend after a threat was made against him by dissident republicans. The MP for South Down, Eddie McGrady, described the threat as "an expression of the extreme republican attitude to the new police service".
Republican threat on Catholic PSNI officer slammed
An SDLP member of the Policing Board has slammed republicans after a Catholic PSNI recruit in Newry was forced to flee his home at the weekend after a threat was made against him by dissident republicans. The MP for South Down, Eddie McGrady, described the threat as "an expression of the extreme republican attitude to the new police service".
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:This evening will be dry. The rest of the night will remain mainly dry with a good deal of cloud. A little rain reaching the far west later. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
