11293 report 19 - CAIN - University of Ulster

Recommendations 120 and 121: Selection of RecruitsPatten Recommendations:120. All candidates for the police service should continue to be required to reach a specifiedstandard of merit in the selection procedure. Candidates reaching this standard should thenenter a pool from which the required number of recruits can be drawn.121. An equal number of Protestants and Catholics should be drawn from the pool of qualifiedcandidates.Lead Responsibility: NIO/Chief Constable/Policing BoardRecommendation StatusCompliance with this recommendation has been achieved.HistoryThe Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 provides legislative authority for the recruitment ofqualified applicants on a 50:50 ratio for those identified as Catholic and those identified as otherthan Catholic. The Consensia Partnership working in cooperation with the Police Service hasdeveloped a comprehensive, job related multi-stage application and selection process, whichrequires recruits to reach an established standard of merit after which they are entered into amerit pool.Consensia continually evaluates the process and from time to time makes adjustments tostrengthen it. For example, the upper age for accepting applicants has been raised from 52 to 57;the initial selection test has been changed to focus on cognitive ability rather than spelling andgrammar; the number of competencies tested have been reduced from nine to seven and includebehavioural competencies; firearms handling and training competencies have been moved tobecome part of the training programme; and, there have been changes in processing the medicalquestionnaire. In addition, applicants are provided with advance information to familiarise themwith the process. The change to accept on-line applications, commencing with competition six hasresulted in a steady increase in on-line applications from as initial 25% to 75% of all applications.Consensia has completed 11 recruitment campaigns since 2002 from which they have establishedmerit pools sufficient to meet the requirements of the Police Service to appoint on a 50:50 basis,including 36% women. Campaign 12 is underway. Except for fulfiling the training requirements, allrecruits are considered fully capable and qualified to perform the duties of a police officer. Aspreviously noted the success of the recruitment programme is a credit both to the professionalabilities of the Consensia Partnership and to the high level of professional support provided by thePolice Service.156The Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 also requires that where there is a recruitment campaignfor six or more vacant civilian staff posts at the same level, an equal number of Catholics andthose other than Catholic should be appointed from the merit pool of qualified candidates. ThePolice Service contracted with Grafton Recruitment for the selection of civilian support staff.Grafton has designed and requires applicants for civilian support staff positions to meet anestablished set of job-related competencies. These competencies are continually evaluated and