Policing Board updated on PSNI human resources strategy

The Chairman of the Policing Board has said that progress has been made by the PSNI in developing a plan to resolve problems relating its human resources (HR) programme.

Commenting on the progress made so far, Chairman of the Board, Professor Desmond Rea said: “The Policing Board has given this area of work number one priority. Successfully resolving the PSNI’s HR problems holds the key to the overall delivery of an effective policing service."

At last week’s board meeting, members received an update from the chairperson of the Personnel and General Purposes Committee on the current issues impacting on human resources. In addition to addressing severance uptake under the Patten proposals, recruitment of the part-time reserve, civilianisation of posts, personnel wastage and the status of the Full-Time Reserve, the future of officers seconded overseas is also being reviewed.

Professor Rea added: “Since the presentation of the initial strategy in June, the PSNI and the board have been working closely to devise workable solutions to what are extremely complex problems.

“We will not be satisfied until this has been fully sorted out, but at this stage I would like to thank the senior PSNI personnel and the board’s Personnel and General Purposes Committee, who have worked and continue to work tirelessly on this issue.”

The board and the PSNI aim to finalise the HR plan by the beginning of October.

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