§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they still accept the claim made in paragraph 15.11 of the report by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland, chaired by Chris Patten, that reverse discrimination in favour of Roman Catholics would not be contrary to European law. [HL958]
52WA
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe recruitment arrangements provided for in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 are compatible with European law.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why reverse discrimination is necessary for Roman Catholics, who were under-represented in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (but overrepresented among senior officers), but not for women (and other groups), who are also underrepresented in the police force, given the statutory objective of representativeness of the community in Northern Ireland in Sections 45(3) and 47(4)(a) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. [HL960]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland did not recommend positive discriminatory measures to address the under-representation of women in the police service. Section 48 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 provides for the Policing Board to make an action plan to increase the number of women in the police service.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How, and by whom, applicants to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in February were shortlisted; what tests were performed; whether the applicants were interviewed; whether any of the tests were waived or postponed for some or all of the applicants; and what were the criteria of selection. [HL962]
§ Lord Williams of MostynApplicants to the Police Service of Northern Ireland were initially assessed by Consensia, the independent recruitment agency, to check that they met the statutory eligibility criteria. The selection process consisted of a series of tests and assessments, including an interview, which were designed to assess the competences required to be a police officer. Applicants who had previously passed the Home Office police initial recruitment test were exempted from this particular test.