11293 report 19 - CAIN - University of Ulster

composition and recruitmentRemaining IssuesIt remains as important for all the supporting agencies of policing, as it does for the Police Service,to continue to meet the intent of the Independent Commission’s recommendations to provide arepresentative policing service. The Ombudsman and Policing Board are doing that, however theNIO’s Policing Division has not yet achieved this goal and should make a concerted effort to doso, particularly with the prospect of devolved policing and justice powers.Recommendation 113: Support from Community LeadersPatten Recommendation:113. All community leaders, including political party leaders and local councillors, bishops andpriests, school teachers and sports authorities, should take steps to remove alldiscouragements to members of their communities applying to join the police, and make it apriority to encourage them to apply.Lead Responsibility: NIO/Chief Constable/Policing BoardRecommendation StatusCompliance with this recommendation has been achieved.HistoryFrom the outset, the Catholic Church and some leading public officials publicly expressed supportfor the Police Service and have provided encouragement for young people to become a part of it.However, despite the support of the Catholic Church, similar support was not forthcoming fromall parts of the Catholic community. Nevertheless, the public and private support that wasprovided, combined with the development and implementation in 2001 of an innovative policerecruitment programme, did result in a continuous and consistent Catholic police applicant rate ofnearly 36% and an abundance of applicants to fill the recruitment objectives. Similarly, arecruitment programme for civilian staff has successfully recruited Roman Catholic applicants forcivilian posts (see Recommendations 117-119).These successes are remarkable given the discouragements faced by potential police applicantsand challenges presented to recruitment campaigns. For example, the police recruitment agencyfound its advertising refused by some outlets, and publicly posted police recruitment materialswere destroyed or removed in some areas of the community. Police recruits have been openlydiscouraged from joining or remaining with the Police Service and fear of intimidation or attack onthemselves or relatives are reasons given by some Catholics for not joining the Police Service.While thus far the Police Service has successfully met these and other recruitment challenges, ithas been pointed out in several prior reports that ongoing success, not only at recruitment butalso at retaining Catholic police officers and civilian support staff, depends upon more broadlybased community support and the removal of existing discouragements to joining the service. Itnow appears that this support may be forthcoming and in fact has started in some cases.Several recent public statements by leaders of all political parties have encouraged victims ofcrime to cooperate with police officers. Republican leaders have relaxed their opposition to149