§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the standard letters sent to (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants at the first stage of recruitment to the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and to (c) successful and unsuccessful qualified applicants. [HL970]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)Copies of the standard letters issued to candidates at various stages of the competition will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as requested.
§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether police officers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland can transfer to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland; what oath they take on transfer to the new police service; and what oaths they had previously taken in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. [HL1052]
136WA
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Government's updated implementation plan published in August 2001 gives the Government's position on lateral entry to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Any police officer joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland is required to make the declaration set out in Section 38 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 2000.
Schedule 4 to the Police Act 1996 sets out the declaration that every police officer must take on appointment in England and Wales. Regulation 10 of the Police (Scotland) Regulations, made under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, sets out the declaration that every police officer must take on appointment in Scotland.
I understand that in the Republic of Ireland officers make a declaration as follows:
I… do solemnly and sincerely before God declare and affirm and my word and honour pledge that I will be faithful to the utmost of my ability in my employment by the Government of Ireland in the office of Garda in the Garda Siochána, and that I will render good and true service and obedience to Ireland and its constitution and government as by law established, without favour or affection, fear, malice, or and that I will see and cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against the same, and that while I shall continue to hold the said office, I will to the best of my knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law, and that I do not belong, and that I will not while I hold the said office, join, belong, or subscribe to any Political Society whatsoever, or to any Secret Society whatsoever.
§ Lord Roganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why advertisements for the Police Service of Northern Ireland are being shown in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but not in other regions of the United Kingdom. [HL1140]
§ Lord Williams of MostynAdvertising in Great Britain has been reduced following the first recruitment competition, on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis carried out by the independent recruitment agent. However, advertisements have been placed in a number of specialist publications which are available in Great Britain and on a satellite television channel. Details are also available on the Police Service of Northern Ireland website.
§ Lord Roganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland is on the basis of 50/50 Catholic/ Protestant and not proportionality of the population. [HL1141]
§ Lord Williams of MostynRecruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland is being carried out on the basis of 50 per cent Catholic, 50 per cent non-Catholic. The Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland recommended a 50:50 recruitment profile because this broadly reflects the breakdown of the population in the normal age range for recruitment.