PSNI '50-50' policy to continue

The British government has announced plans to continue controversial rules requiring 50% of all police recruits in the North to be Catholic.

The 50-50 Protestant-Catholic recruitment ratio was recommended by the Patten Commission on reform of the old RUC.

The commission found 92% of RUC officers were Protestant and recommended a temporary 50-50 recruitment ratio a means to redress the imbalance.

However, unionists have strongly objected to the policy, claiming it discriminates against Protestants and limits the numbers of new recruits to the PSNI.

Despite objections, Jane Kennedy, the British government’s security minister for the North, said she was planning to press ahead with the policy for another three years.

She said she understood the unionist objections and vowed that the scheme would not continue for any longer than was necessary.