DPP campaign tempered by low Catholic response

The campaign to recruit independent representatives onto the district policing partnership boards (DPP) has seen only one in five applicants coming from Catholics and only one in four from women.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board revealed the breakdown of the returns indicated that only 22% of the applications had been made from individuals considered to be from the Catholic community. The majority of applications (69%) were received from Protestant applicants. Of the remaining applicants, 9% indicated they belonged to neither of these groupings.

Roughly three-quarters of the applicants were male and one-quarter were female.

At the meeting of the Corporate Policy Committee today, Policing Board members were advised that, from a total of 4650 enquiries received, 1479 completed applications for the independent posts had been returned by the closing date.

Commenting on the response, Board Chairman, Professor Desmond Rea, said: “We are extremely pleased with the numbers of inquiries and applications for these unique posts from right across the community. The campaign was designed to raise awareness of the DPPs and to encourage people to become involved. We believe a sound start has been made.

“As with any new venture there is sometimes a degree of uncertainty about getting involved. I believe the level of interest displayed during the campaign demonstrates that the people of Northern Ireland want a safer environment to live in and are prepared to get involved to help make a difference."

Professor Rea added that this was the first step in the overall selection process for the independent members of the DPPs that are being set up in accordance with the Belfast Agreement and the legislation enacted on the recommendations of the Patten Report on policing.

Also unveiled at the meeting were the details from the fourth PSNI recruitment campaign. From an initial 8577 requests for information, 4327 application forms were returned with 35% (1514) of applicants from the Catholic community and 31% (1341) of applicants were from women.

Professor Rea said that, despite the difficulties over the summer and the recent threats to PSNI student officers, he was "extremely pleased that this has not deterred applications."

He said: "Policing offers a rewarding career and I believe the continued high return rate demonstrates this. Anyone stepping forward to join the PSNI has the full support of the Policing Board and should be given the full support of the community.”

(SP)