The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) continues to do a
good job protecting the public and reducing crime despite
political gridlock in the Northern Irish Assembly, according to
two reports published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
The absence of an elected Assembly meant that the PSNI could only
access 95 percent of the previous year’s budget, which limited
its opportunities to plan future investments. However, two
inspections showed that the PSNI is coping well and understands
well how it will meet future demand while also making cost
efficiencies.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said:
“We are encouraged to find that the PSNI continues to make good
use of its resources in spite of continuing uncertainty around
the political situation in Northern Ireland. Since our last
inspection, it has developed a deeper understanding of its
workforce’s skills and capability and is in a strong position to
meet the demands of newer threats such as human trafficking and
cyber-crime.
“That said, we did identify some areas for improvement. We found
that uniformed officers often lacked the necessary support and
supervision to effectively investigate volume crimes like
burglary. We also found very little evidence that the PSNI
systematically pursued people it issued with arrest warrants for
minor crimes.
“While we recognise that the Police Service of Northern Ireland
is a high-performing force, it should investigate all crimes to a
consistently high standard, regardless of the seriousness of the
offence.”
The report also sets out that the PSNI:
- has been
determined to be ‘good’ in how effectively and efficiently it
keeps people safe and reduces crime;
- has a
comprehensive understanding of local organised crime and works
well with partners to dismantle it;
- could do more
to ensure frontline officers apply problem-solving techniques
consistently; and
- should continue
its efforts to reduce the backlog of digital devices waiting to
be analysed.
The Department of Justice commissioned HMICFRS to carry out these
inspections as part of annual assessments of police performance.
HMICFRS will carry out further inspections in 2018/19.
Notes to editors:
- HMICFRS is an
independent inspectorate, inspecting policing to promote
improvements in policing that make everyone safer, and assesses
and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces
to tackle crime and terrorism, improve criminal justice and raise
confidence.
- On 19 July
2017, HMIC took on responsibility for fire & rescue service
inspections and was renamed HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and
Fire & Rescue Services.
- HMICFRS
inspects all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with
other major policing and law enforcement bodies. It also inspects
all 45 fire and rescue services in England.
- The Police
(Northern Ireland) Act 1998 as amended provides that HMICFRS
shall at least once in every year inspect and report to the
Department of Justice on the efficiency and effectiveness of:
- the Police
Service of Northern Ireland;
- the Police
Service of Northern Ireland Reserve;
- the police
support staff; and
- traffic
wardens.
