Paid-off police return as civilian workers

Police officers who were given big pay-offs and pensions as part of policing reforms in Northern Ireland are back working for the force as civilians because of a manpower shortage, it was confirmed today.

So many officers have left under Chris Patten’s reforms that the new Police Service of Northern Ireland already has less officers than he proposed would be an appropriate minimum number to police Northern Ireland in ten years time - provided terrorist violence and street disorder was at an end.