Inspectorate publishes report on performance of Police Service of Northern Ireland

Following a commission by the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland), we have today published a report looking at how well the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) treats its workforce and the people of Northern Ireland. The report also updates on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service.

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The Police Service of Northern Ireland – An inspection of how well the service treats its workforce and the people of Northern Ireland

The inspection found that in general PSNI treats its workforce and the people of Northern Ireland well.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said:

“The PSNI operates in a particularly complicated social and political environment. This can make it difficult for the service to build a positive relationship with some communities. In this context, it has done well to inspire confidence.

“The service treats the public fairly and respectfully. There are signs that the historically difficult relationship between the PSNI and some Catholic communities is improving.

“We have made recommendations for how the service can make further improvements.”

HMICFRS has also published findings on the effectiveness and efficiency of PSNI. HMI Parr added:

“PSNI is generally effective at keeping people safe and reducing crime. It also largely offers a service that is good value for money. PSNI has responded well to our previous recommendations in these areas. We would however like to see some clarity over the longer-term funding arrangements set by the Northern Ireland Assembly.”

Get the report

The Police Service of Northern Ireland – An inspection of how well the service treats its workforce and the people of Northern Ireland

Notes

  1. We independently assess the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services – in the public interest. In preparing our reports, we ask the questions that citizens would ask, and publish the answers in accessible form, using our expertise to interpret the evidence and make recommendations for improvement.
  2. Section 41(2) of The Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 requires us to inspect and report to the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland) on the efficiency and effectiveness of the PSNI each year.
  3. In accordance with the Act, in January 2020 we were commissioned to inspect the service. We were asked specifically to examine how much the service inspires confidence among its workforce and the people it serves.
  4. We carried out our inspection of the PSNI in January 2020. We asked three main questions, supported by seven subsidiary questions. They were:
    • Does the service inspire public confidence?
    • Is the behaviour of the service’s workforce ethical and lawful?
    • Does the service inspire the confidence of its workforce?
  5. For further information, HMICFRS’s press office can be contacted from 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday on 020 3513 0600.
  6. HMICFRS’s out-of-hours press office line for urgent media enquiries is 07836 217729.