“During the debate on the Programme for Government two weeks ago I challenged the Executive on the lack of any solid commitment on police numbers. In her response, the deputy First Minister ignored the other points I had made but picked up on my remarks about the PSNI saying:
“on page 48 — I am sorry that the Member for North Antrim was not aware of it — of the Programme for Government, there is reference to fulfilling the New Decade, New Approach commitment that was set down to increase police numbers to 7,500 officers. A significant amount of work has happened. We know the cost of that. The challenge is now over to the Finance Minister to try to – [interruption]
“It is page 48, the fifth paragraph. It is really important that we do this, because we know how important policing is on the ground. You will see from the commitment to this that it:
“includes actively seeking to achieve a sufficient number of police officers in line with New Decade New Approach commitments”.
“That is 7,500 police officers. I am really pleased that that is in the Programme for Government. It is something that we very much support. “
“When I pressed officials who appeared before the Executive Office Committee later the same week there was a reluctance to be as definitive as Emma Little-Pengelly had been. Having explored the matter with the Justice Minister it is now clear why this was.
“I asked Minister Long To ask the Minister of Justice whether the statement in the Programme for Government 2024-2027 that the Executive is actively seeking to achieve a sufficient number of police officers in line with New Decade, New Approach commitments means that the PSNI will have 7,500 officers by the end of the 2022-2027 mandate.
“She has advised that not only does the Executive have no plan to recruit that many additional officers by the end of the Assembly mandate but that the actual target is “approximately 7,000 officers and 2,500 staff” via a five year recovery plan “which extends beyond the end of the mandate”.
“So the Minister responsible for delivery on police numbers has no plan to recruit 7,500 additional officer either within the time frame of the Programme for Government or even within the scope of her five year recovery plan which runs beyond the current mandate.
“There is clearly now an onus on Emma Little-Pengelly to return to the Assembly and correct the record. This is something I plan to raise with the Assembly Speaker early next week.”
Note to editors
Mr Gaston’s question and the response received are as follows:
AQW 24135 22-27
MR TIMOTHY GASTON (North Antrim) has asked:
To ask the Minister of Justice whether the statement in the Programme for Government 2024-2027 that the Executive is actively seeking to achieve a sufficient number of police officers in line with New Decade, New Approach commitments means that the PSNI will have 7,500 officers by the end of the 2022-2027 mandate.
ANSWER
The workforce recovery business case, presently under review by the Department of Finance, articulates a clear plan to secure sufficient police officer and staff numbers over the next three years.
This initiative is broadly aligned with the commitments outlined in the New Decade, New Approach agreement, and aims to achieve a target of approximately 7,000 officers and 2,500 staff by the end of this mandate.The recovery plan, however, is a five-year programme which extends
beyond the end of the mandate. It is also constrained by a number of factors, including but not limited to the capacity of the Police Training College and the levels of attrition of officers.
Affordability also remains a key concern, and so I have and will continue to raise the need for a better financial settlement for my Department, with the Finance Minister and my Executive colleagues, so that PSNI has adequate funding to stabilise and recover numbers back to a sustainable position.
NAOMI LONG MLA