§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes have been made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland's recruitment process since the start of 50:50 recruitment. [HL1489]
§ Baroness AmosThe selection methodology has remained broadly similar throughout the process and consists of an initial selection test, assessment centre, medical examination and vetting.
138WAThe main alteration has been the removal of the physical competence assessment (PCA) from the recruitment process. It is now a requirement to pass this assessment prior to graduation from the training college. This was implemented for the fourth competition after a review of the PCA. The firearms handling test was removed at the same time.
Other changes that have been instituted include allowing those who have been found to be qualified applicants to omit the initial selection test for the next two competitions, and a change in relation to the medical examination to facilitate qualified reapplicants.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many candidates from a Protestant background and how many from a Roman Catholic background have been refused entry into the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [HL1490]
§ Baroness AmosAs at 12 February, of the 31,943 applicants invited to sit in the initial selection test in the six competitions, 10,993 Roman Catholics and 19,862 Protestants were not appointed. Appointments from competition 4 are ongoing and appointments from competition 5 have started, although the pool is not yet finalised, and the pool for competition 6 is not expected to be ready until April this year.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Policing Board for Northern Ireland has approved their proposal to continue the policy of 50:50 recruitment for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [HL1491]
§ Baroness AmosSection 47 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 states that, in deciding whether and, if so, how to exercise his powers to provide by order that the temporary provisions shall continue in force, the Secretary of State is required to consult the board and take into account any recommendations made to him by the board.
Professor Desmond Rea, on behalf of the Policing Board, wrote to the Government on 4 December last year, in response to the Government's consultation on 50:50 recruitment, and stated that it had not, given the political membership of the board, been possible to give a corporate board response.