Recruitment of more Catholics into the ranks of the Northern Ireland Police Service (PSNI) should be a top priority on the political agenda, according to a former top police officer. Hugh Orde, who lead the PSNI from 2002 to 2009, stated that the current figures would make him “worried” if he was still in command, calling it a “crucial strategic issue for the future of policing in Northern Ireland”.
Mr Orde noted the presence of the First Minister and Sinn Féin’s vice-president, Michelle O’Neill, at a PSNI graduation event earlier this year, terming it as “very important” and “noticeable”. However, he felt that such a move should have been made sooner, as part of accepting and supporting policing includes taking responsibility and participating in expected events.
With the 50/50 recruitment initiative that concluded in 2011, there was a noticeable rise in Catholic officers, increasing from less than 10% to roughly a third. As at March 2024, this percentage stands at 33%.
Several recent controversies, including the remarkable data leak from PSNI last year, have resulted in a drop in faith in the police, particularly among Catholic officers. Reflecting on his time as chief constable, Mr Orde considered himself “fortunate” to have been in power during the 50/50 recruitment drive, which attracted more Catholics to the service, and during a period when substantial funding was available to implement police reforms.
He observed that policing services across the UK are now struggling and recruitment rates are dwindling. Such challenges can be combated, though with considerable difficulty, through political support and obtaining necessary funding to begin tackling the issue, he said. Although he admitted that, 15 years after leaving his role, his detailed knowledge of the situation was not up-to-date and the current chief constable wouldn’t benefit from advice from a previous officer.
Speaking from his personal hiring experience, he pointed out that numerous individuals from each fragment of society would gladly join if provided with appropriate chances. However, he added, there is a need for these prospective members to identify the service and recognise it. With the dwindling numbers in the PSNI, this recognition becomes an increasingly tough task.
For such an occurrence, he stated, the head of the police requires political aid in securing the funds required for execution, noting its crucialness when one considers the challenging historical incidents. He suggested that it is deemed as a sensible investment.
Besides, he added, the community must partake in this responsibility; the collaboration of the police and communities is essential.
He then obligingly discussed the profound legacies and the widespread societal challenges. He showed his vexation about the discontinuation of the Historical Enquiries Team – a PSNI unit constituted in 2005 purposed to probe unresolved Troubles killings. He acknowledged the existing gap and revealed his uncertainty in regards to when it would be aptly filled.
He shared his opinions about the yet to be enacted Legacy Act, currently under scrutiny by local and global courts. He depicted his view that the Act was poorly received due to its composition. Yet, he voiced his support for the Chief Commissioner Declan Morgan and Commissioner for Investigations Peter Sheridan.
In his view, if anyone could steer this in the right direction, Declan Morgan, a highly acclaimed high court judge, and Peter Sheridan, who he described as an excellent assistant chief and one who possesses a far better understanding of the place than himself, could suitably fit the role.
While he expressed uncertainty and projected several hurdles, he gave his well wishes, hoping the Act manages these anticipated challenges.
The previous head of police stated that in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder, there exists a considerable task in rebuilding public faith in law enforcement. Moreover, there is a substantial concern regarding the processes employed in the recruitment and education of our police force. Furthermore, he emphasized the necessity for a pragmatic financial foundation for the police, in order to navigate their consistently challenging role effectively.