Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Figures recently released to me by the PPS on the community background of its employed prosecutors, demonstrate that it is failing as an employer to secure an acceptable balance, with Protestants grossly underrepresented.
“Whereas 110 of its 169 full-time prosecutors come from a Roman Catholic background only 50 are Protestants.
Community Background. Number
Protestant 50
Catholic 110
Not Determined 9
Total 169
(Source: NISRA HRCS, reflecting the position on HR Connect as at 1 April 2020. Note: Includes permanent and temporary NICS staff, but excludes agency personnel. Excludes staff who are on a career break or on secondment to other organisations.)
“The Public Prosecution Service must command cross-community confidence. Such is imperative for the effective administration of justice. Thus, it is alarming that this situation of gross imbalance has been allowed to develop. I fear if Agency prosecuting personnel were included, the situation would be even more dire.
“I have written to the Equally Commission inviting it to investigate further and bring forward proposals to ensure balanced recruitment. I have no doubt if the figures were in reverse with under-representation of Catholics, we would have heard many public pronouncements by the Equality Commission. But, to date, nothing about Protestant disadvantage in the PPS! Why?
“The Director of Public Prosecutions must urgently address the issue of why the PPS is a cold house for Protestants. When he looks at some individual sections and regions in the PPS he will, I believe, find an even more alarming picture.”