PSNI numbers at watershed moment - chief constable

Jon Boutcher, wearing a white shirt and a black tie. There is a large PSNI logo on the wall in the background of the image. PA Media

The PSNI chief constable says the force should ideally have 8,000 officers

Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI crime and justice correspondent

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is at “a watershed moment”, with current officer numbers insufficient to keep people safe, the chief constable Jon Boutcher has said.

He was speaking in Belfast at the launch of a draft five-year policing plan.

The PSNI has 6,300 officers, many of whom are “breaking because of the amount of work they have”.

Mr Boutcher has drawn up a recovery plan to increase headcount to 7,000 by 2028.

Funding commitment

The recruitment drive will require a funding commitment from the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont.

Mr Boutcher said: “We have got to make sure we get the numbers back to what they should be because we have, in effect, broken the workforce.

“The PSNI is a jewel and we have got to make sure we do not allow it to go into further decay.

“We need to ensure we survive this year and get recruits in.”

The chief constable added the PSNI should ideally have 8,000 officers.

He went on: “The next five years are pivotal for the PSNI.

“We really are at a watershed moment.”

Public consultation

The new draft policing plan, which is a legal requirement, has been drawn up in consultation with the Policing Board.

It sets out three objectives:

  • the PSNI is victim focused

  • safe communities with confidence in policing

  • the PSNI have a representative and valued workforce

The vice chair of the Policing Board, Brendan Mullan, said: “This plan focuses on the positive changes we can make to enable PSNI to deliver the service that the public expect and deserve.

“We need to make sure the PSNI is properly resourced and enabled to deliver on the outcomes.”

The plan is out for public consultation until 10 December.

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