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23/07/2009
Police Reserve Cuts Face Court Challenge
The PSNI's plan to cut 500 full-time reserve police officers is to be challenged in the courts.
It has emerged today that the officers' representative body, the Police Federation has requested a judicial review of Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde's decision to phase out the Full-Time Reserve by March 2011.
Federation Chair Terry Spence said they were mounting the legal challenge on the grounds that the Chief Constable did not consult sufficiently with the federation before pushing ahead with the decision.
He also said Sir Hugh, who is leaving his post in September, should have left the decision to his successor.
"It is also a decision which flies in the face of an enduring severe terrorist threat and a volatile public order situation."
After conducting a review of the security situation, last month Sir Hugh Orde decided to press ahead with phasing out the remaining 500 officers.
They will leave the PSNI by March 2011, with reservists leaving front line duties by next summer.
The judicial review hearing is expected to be heard in September - at which stage Sir Hugh will have left the PSNI.
A PSNI spokesman said it would not be appropriate to comment on the legal challenge at the present time.
Earlier, defending his decision last month, Sir Hugh said the Patten reforms were "non-negotiable".
However, he also paid tribute to all those who had served in the Reserve, noting that a total of 102 reserve officers lost their lives during the Troubles.
"The people of Northern Ireland owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women of the Full Time Reserve and indeed their part-time colleagues," he said.
At the height of the Troubles there were 3,500 full-time reserve officers.
The Part-Time Reserve has already been disbanded - and replaced with a new style of part time officer - in accordance with recommendations contained in the 1999 Patten Report.
See: Shock Call For Further PSNI Cuts
See: Decision Reserved On Police Reserve
(BMcC/JM)
It has emerged today that the officers' representative body, the Police Federation has requested a judicial review of Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde's decision to phase out the Full-Time Reserve by March 2011.
Federation Chair Terry Spence said they were mounting the legal challenge on the grounds that the Chief Constable did not consult sufficiently with the federation before pushing ahead with the decision.
He also said Sir Hugh, who is leaving his post in September, should have left the decision to his successor.
"It is also a decision which flies in the face of an enduring severe terrorist threat and a volatile public order situation."
After conducting a review of the security situation, last month Sir Hugh Orde decided to press ahead with phasing out the remaining 500 officers.
They will leave the PSNI by March 2011, with reservists leaving front line duties by next summer.
The judicial review hearing is expected to be heard in September - at which stage Sir Hugh will have left the PSNI.
A PSNI spokesman said it would not be appropriate to comment on the legal challenge at the present time.
Earlier, defending his decision last month, Sir Hugh said the Patten reforms were "non-negotiable".
However, he also paid tribute to all those who had served in the Reserve, noting that a total of 102 reserve officers lost their lives during the Troubles.
"The people of Northern Ireland owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women of the Full Time Reserve and indeed their part-time colleagues," he said.
At the height of the Troubles there were 3,500 full-time reserve officers.
The Part-Time Reserve has already been disbanded - and replaced with a new style of part time officer - in accordance with recommendations contained in the 1999 Patten Report.
See: Shock Call For Further PSNI Cuts
See: Decision Reserved On Police Reserve
(BMcC/JM)
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18 June 2009
Death Knell For Police Reserve
The NI Policing Board has been told that PSNI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, is to press ahead with phasing out the use of support officers employed in the force's Full Time Reserve.
Death Knell For Police Reserve
The NI Policing Board has been told that PSNI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, is to press ahead with phasing out the use of support officers employed in the force's Full Time Reserve.
15 June 2009
Decision Reserved On Police Reserve
Proposed cuts in levels of police officers are on the agenda today as the PSNI Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, insisted that abolishing the full-time police reserve will not put the public or his officers at risk. He is to meet senior officers later to discuss the phasing out of the Reserve, which he said was now down to about 380 officers.
Decision Reserved On Police Reserve
Proposed cuts in levels of police officers are on the agenda today as the PSNI Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, insisted that abolishing the full-time police reserve will not put the public or his officers at risk. He is to meet senior officers later to discuss the phasing out of the Reserve, which he said was now down to about 380 officers.
24 January 2007
Police Ombudsman to brief board on report
The Policing Board are to be briefed by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan this afternoon. The meeting is expected to be tense and the PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is expected to attend the meeting. Mrs O'Loan's report has come under fire from the retired police officer's association.
Police Ombudsman to brief board on report
The Policing Board are to be briefed by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan this afternoon. The meeting is expected to be tense and the PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is expected to attend the meeting. Mrs O'Loan's report has come under fire from the retired police officer's association.
03 October 2002
Police full-time reserve will stay until 2005
The Policing Board ruled today that they would accede to the Chief Constable's request and maintain the PSNI full-time reserve. The decision means that the 2,175 members of the full-time reserve will have their contracts extended until April 2005.
Police full-time reserve will stay until 2005
The Policing Board ruled today that they would accede to the Chief Constable's request and maintain the PSNI full-time reserve. The decision means that the 2,175 members of the full-time reserve will have their contracts extended until April 2005.
09 November 2009
Police Reserve Axe Debated
As tensions continue this week over the devolution of policing and justice to Stormont, another issue around policing remains contentious: the axing of the PSNI reserve officers. PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott confirmed on Friday that he would be phasing out of the Full Time Reserve (FTR) as planned.
Police Reserve Axe Debated
As tensions continue this week over the devolution of policing and justice to Stormont, another issue around policing remains contentious: the axing of the PSNI reserve officers. PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott confirmed on Friday that he would be phasing out of the Full Time Reserve (FTR) as planned.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
