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The number of Catholics applying to join Northern Ireland\u2019s police service has risen by more than 200.<\/p>\nThe number of Catholics applying to join Northern Ireland\u2019s police service has risen by more than 200.<\/p>\n
Almost one third of those who want to join are identified as Catholic, equating to 2,158.<\/p>\n
PSNI deputy chief constable Mark Hamilton said he was pleased.<\/p>\n
Chris Patten, a former Conservative Party chairman whose 1999 report on overhauling the RUC led to the creation of the PSNI and 50\/50 recruitment of Catholics and Protestants, said: \u201cI am extremely pleased that the Police Commission Report which I chaired with great support from a number of others has turned out to be such a success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is partly because of the leadership of the police and the support of the community.<\/p>\n
“There are obviously always going to be problems in policing any community but what has been achieved here has been outstanding.”<\/p>\n
In just over three weeks the force received 6,961 applications, an increase of over 700 from a 2018 recruitment campaign, the PSNI said.<\/p>\n
An extra 223 were from Catholics.<\/p>\n
Senior officers have expressed concern the proportion of Catholics applying has fallen back amid the continued threat from dissident republicans.<\/p>\n
Measures have been put in place to encourage them to put their names forward in relative safety.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in and the SDLP have called for the reintroduction of the 50-50 recruitment policy, which ran for 10 years until 2011.<\/p>\n
Unionists have expressed concern.<\/p>\n
At the time, Mr Patten produced his report only 8% of the force was Catholic, now it accounts for around 30%.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cAt the moment the Equality Commission and police service have done a very good job and they will want to keep an eye on whether they need to go back to 50\/50 recruiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proportion of women applying has also increased on 2018, to around 40%.<\/p>\n
Mr Hamilton said: \u201cI am encouraged to see the number of people who have shown an interest in a career in the police service from across all sections of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in policing spokesman Gerry Kelly has been subjected to threats from dissident republicans after he lent support to the latest recruitment campaign and urged Catholics to sign up.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cAn accountable police service needs to be representative of the whole community it serves and representative in all grades and ranks also.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision to abandon 50\/50 recruitment was both political and wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is anticipated that successful applicants will begin training from autumn 2020.<\/p>\n