§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress has been made in improving ethnic minority representation in the Police Service for Northern Ireland. [67330]
§ Jane KennedyAt 1 November 2001 there were 17 police officers in Northern Ireland from an ethnic minority background (0.16 per cent. of the total). Since recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) began on 4 November 2001, there has been one new recruit from an ethnic minority community background, bringing the total number within the PSNI to 18 (0.18 per cent.)
While the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland (the Patten Report) noted that ethnic minorities comprise less than 1 per cent. of the Northern Ireland population (para. 14.6), particular account is being taken of the need to increase ethnic minority representation in the new policing service. This is reflected through both the design and publication of recruitment advertisements, and the organisation of familiarisation days for members of the Chinese community.
§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress has been made in improving the gender balance in the Police Service for Northern Ireland. [673361
§ Jane KennedyAt 1 November 2001 there were 931 (12.9 per cent.) female officers in the Northern Ireland police service. Since recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) began on 4 November 2001, this figure has risen to 1,012 (14.9 per cent.) female police officers (as at 1 June 2002).
Particular effort is being made to increase female representation in the PSNI, through targeted recruitment advertising and the organisation of familiarisation days for women. In addition, section 48 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 requires the Policing Board to make an action plan for monitoring the number of women in the service and for increasing their numbers if they are under-represented.