11293 report 19 - CAIN - University of Ulster

markets. As of April 2007, the percentage of Catholic police officers stands at 21% and isexpected to reach the goal of 30% by 2010/2011.Following approval of the contract for the recruitment of civilian staff in 2002, GraftonRecruitment developed a comprehensive recruitment programme for civilian support staff similarto the one for police officers. 1 Grafton Recruitment has completed 23 campaigns for 370 civiliansupport staff under the 50:50 requirements and as of April 2007 had another four underway.Grafton received over 20,400 applicant requests and over 11,200 actual applications during thesecampaigns. One of the more significant campaigns was for 60 of the anticipated 260 StationEnquiry Assistants, envisaged by the Independent Commission to replace police officers assignedto enquiry desks. Grafton provided the Police Service with a merit pool of 227, of which 92 werequalified for appointment on a 50:50 basis.The remaining campaigns, with the exception of one,which was successful when repeated, also produced sufficient applicants and merit pools fromwhich appointments could be made consistent with the 50:50 requirements. Grafton has alsoconducted over 160 additional campaigns for positions where 50:50 is not applicable and anadditional 12 are ongoing.The Police Service demonstrated progress on a number of youth and school contact initiatives insupport of long-term recruitment goals as well as generally improving relationships with youngpeople. This was complicated by a political situation up to the present time made the delivery ofschool programmes difficult, particularly in underrepresented areas. In 2006, the Police Servicefulfiled 1,279 of the 1,902 requests for the Citizenship and Safety Education Programme (CASE)programme, which included 277 visits to Catholic schools. The Police Service conducts careerfairs on a regular basis during which young people have an opportunity to learn about careeropportunities with the Police Service. During the period 2003 - 2006, the Police Service held 51such events. The work experience programme is also presently dependent upon the interest andresources of the local commander and is being delivered in 13 of the 29 districts, including WestBelfast where the Police Service has been invited to deliver the programme to four Catholicschools. The continued delivery of these programmes is a credit to the Police Service, and moreimportantly to the local commanders who have been responsible for doing so.Following several delays, the Police Service in 2004 issued a policy and published guidance booksoutlining the requirements and procedures for officers to register their interests in specified orany other organisations “proclaiming/holding views on race, ethnicity or national identity whichmay be perceived to be in conflict with section 32 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 andsection 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.” Police officers began returning completed forms insealed envelopes in April 2004, but shortly thereafter the process was suspended because twopolice officers were granted leave for Judicial Review of the process. Although the Judicial Reviewrequest was later withdrawn, the Police Service determined that there was a clear lack oflegislative authority to enforce the objective registration requirement contained in its policy. TheChief Constable, in 2004, requested that the Secretary of State seek corrective legislation, but wasadvised by the Northern Ireland Office that it was unable to amend the legislation to address thedeficiency. The Police Service restarted the registration process using as its authority amended1421Consistent with the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, when recruiting for six or more civilian posts at thesame level, an equal number of Catholics and those other than Catholic must be appointed. When recruitingfor less than six posts at the same time, the 50:50 recruiting requirement does not apply.