HC Deb 13 November 2000 vol 356 cc466-7W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what assessment he has made of trends in Catholic applications to the police force in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement; [137328]

(2) what (a) proportion and (b) number of applicants to the RUC/Northern Ireland police force were (i) Catholic, (ii) Protestant and (iii) from other communities from 1995 to date; and if he will make a statement. [137503]

Mr. Ingram

The following table provides the information requested, by recruitment competition from 1995. Under the terms of section 31 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (now Article 55 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998) this matter is continuously under review and requires the Royal Ulster Constabulary to identify under-representation and establish appropriate affirmative action to address any imbalances. The Royal Ulster Constabulary fully recognises the benefits and the need to be more representative of the communities it serves and its goal is to reflect the composition of those communities. The Government are committed to taking all appropriate steps as are necessary, in line with the recommendations contained in the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, to bring about an increase in full cross-community representation within the police service.

Applications to RUC by community background since 1995
Percentage
Year CB1 CB2 CB3 Total CBI CB2 CB3
RUC
CompC 1995 1,449 467 142 2,058 70.41 22.69 6.90
CompD 1995 1,774 438 188 2,400 73.92 18.25 7.83
CompE 1996 1,571 369 155 2,095 74.99 17.61 7.40
CompF 1996 2,054 406 269 2,729 75.27 14.88 9.86
CompG 1997 2,173 412 212 2,797 77.69 14.73 7.58
CompH 1998 2,134 431 260 2,825 75.54 15.26 9.20
CompI 1998 2,312 750 297 3,359 68.83 22.33 8.84
Full-time RUC Reserve
CompB 1995 1,042 282 130 1,454 71.66 19.39 8.94
CompC 1996 1,075 255 101 1,431 75.12 17.82 7.06
CompD 1997 1,155 184 135 1,474 78.36 12.48 9.16
CompE 1997 612 106 55 773 79.17 13.71 7.12
CompF 1997 1,132 197 128 1,457 77.69 13.52 8.79

Note:

  • CB1—Perceived to be Protestant
  • CB2—Perceived to be Roman Catholic
  • CB3—Non-determined