Staff cuts have weakened PSNI - report

Major staff cuts have weakened service levels provided by police in Northern Ireland, a new report claimed tonight.

Sexism and discrimination within the force has also surfaced as more women are recruited, an independent watchdog revealed.

Even though the Inspectorate of Constabulary, Ken Williams, praised the PSNI’s increased community-style police, his assessment found a major reform programme has taken its toll.

Operational strength has been slashed by 2,000 full-time officers as part of the Patten blueprint for overhauling the service.

But Mr Williams, the former chief constable of Norfolk, reached a startling conclusion after being briefed by officers and politicians.

His report said: “An overall reduction in size, amongst other factors, means that the Service cannot provide the same levels of service it once did.”

His assessment was immediately seized upon by campaigners battling to halt any plan to axe 1,600 full-time reserve officers during the transformation.

Ian Paisley Jr, a Democratic Unionist member of Northern Ireland’s Policing Board, insisted the force was becoming powerless amid rising crime.

“There are three times more serious organised crime gangs operating in Northern Ireland than when we had 9,000 officers,” he said.

“This shows that we can’t afford to cut manpower services, otherwise we are going to have a skeleton police service that doesn’t satisfy public needs.

“And we certainly can’t afford to do away with the full-time reserve.”

Chief constable Hugh Orde will announce next month whether or not he can do without the unit, whose future has split unionists and nationalists.

His report comes as police chiefs continue their drive to bolster Catholic numbers within the overwhelmingly Protestant force. Catholic staff rose from 8% in November 2001 to 14% by May 2004.

Female recruits also went up to 34% by the same date. But as more women join, a new menace, has been detected.

“With higher levels of female recruitment taking place evidence is now starting to emerge of isolated sexist attitudes and instances of discrimination. The Service is beginning to respond to these.”

In its attempts to address race and diversity issues, the inspector noted PSNI chiefs are researching possible policies to support transsexual staff.

As well as areas for improvement highlighted in the 60-page dossier, Mr Williams stressed how Mr Orde’s impact and leadership has been praised throughout those consulted.

Although the police service would not comment on specific issues raised in the report, a spokeswoman described it as a fair and accurate performance assessment.