More women joining PSNI

ALMOST A quarter of Northern Ireland's police officers are women, according to a report yesterday.

Numbers have risen significantly, with police employing 22 per cent women compared to less than a tenth in 2001, the policing board said.

At the publication of the PSNI revised gender action plan Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said: "We have addressed and implemented many of the recommendations in the original plan and are committed to the new proposals for future action outlined in this revised version.

"As a policing service, we will continue our work to encompass a breadth of life experience and skills and embrace different cultures and values, in order to fully meet the needs of the community we serve."

Managers expect 26 per cent of the force to be women by 2010. Implementation of the plan will continue to be monitored by the board's human resources committee. Board chairman Sir Des Rea said: "Creating a workforce which is representative of, and reflects the diversity of the population not only helps the PSNI maximise its potential, but demonstrates fairness, respect and equity of treatment when working with the community."

DUP policing board member Peter Weir said the boost was a welcome distraction from 50/50 recruitment. "For too long the emphasis on the religious composition of the police has obscured the focus from attracting more women into the ranks," he said.

"I welcome the fact that since 2001 the proportion of women in the police has increased from 8 per cent to 22 per cent: a figure set to rise to 26 per cent by 2010."

© 2008 PA

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times