POLICING numbers could drop to as low as 6,000 by the end of the year, making it “nigh on impossible” for officers to respond effectively.
Liam Kelly, chair the Police Federation of Northern Ireland (PFNI), was speaking at the organisation’s annual conference on Wednesday, calling on the British Government and Stormont Executive to end their “shameful, penny-pinching betrayal of policing” and the officers putting themselves in harm’s way.
Claiming the PSNI was facing its deepest resourcing crisis since being formed in 2001, he said that the current policing levels of 6,379 was well below the 8,500 required and just 21 more than what the Chief Constable said was his line in the sand was for keeping people safe.
He estimated this would drop to 6,000 by the end of the year or the end of the financial year.
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His address also highlighted assaults against officers, the undermining of services to the general public and delays in dealing with complaint investigations.
“We will not stop until we convince the Government and the Executive to end their shameful, penny-pinching betrayal of policing in Northern Ireland and, more specifically, the men and women of the PSNI who puts themselves in harm’s way every day for the benefit of our society,” he said.
With an £80m deficit in the PSNI budget, he said that there would be no choice than to “drastically pare back services”.
“There is an abject failure to properly fund and resource policing. We felt we earned the right to expect something better from our newly restored devolved institutions. That was misplaced confidence on our part.
“Not even having the ability to stand still is a recipe for disaster for the service. Right now, we are in the deepest resourcing crisis since the formation of the PSNI in 2001.”
He also said Stormont leaders and local MPs needed to do more to fight for a greater budget from Westminster.
“Too few ‘folks on the hill’ have our back the way they really should,” he said.
On the current rate of departures from the police service, he said: “This will make our ability to respond effectively nigh on impossible and without positive intervention, the crisis in policing will continue to get worse.
“One officer per 320 of the population is wholly inadequate to meet the multiplicity of challenges that are out there. Great damage is being done and it is dangerous and irresponsible….
“We are being asked to do the impossible. Regrettably, it’s taking a heavy toll on our colleagues who are working flat-out in the most trying of circumstances.
“Our paymasters are sleep-walking into trouble.”
Other grievances were with the PSNI’s internal disciplinary process, stating the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department took excessive time to complete investigations which negatively impacted both officers and the service.
A “worrying backlog” of officers seeking professional psychological help also pointed to a “chasm” between rank-and-file and senior officers.
“There remains a fear culture that the discipline pathway is more likely, particularly for junior officers, than any tangible senior management support. We need our leadership to back officers, not break them.”
With 3,346 assaults notified in 2022/23, Mr Kelly said 979 involved injury to officers – an increase of 7.6% from the previous year and with an injury total up 55% from 2018/19 figures.
“Incredibly it is probably worse as there is still an element of under-reporting of assaults by colleagues,” he said.
He also welcomed a commitment from the Justice Minister Naomi Long to prioritise new sentencing guidelines for assaults against police and emergency service workers.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher attended the conference and said it was a welcome opportunity to discuss the “myriad challenges” facing the PSNI.
“I share many of the concerns I heard here today: about our budget, officer numbers, pay and assaults on police,” he said.
“These are issues I have raised with the Policing Board and others on numerous occasions and I will continue to work relentlessly to ensure that policing is given the resources it needs. Alongside the Service Executive Team I will also continue to work closely with the Police Federation and others to support our colleagues in every way we can.
“Policing is a tough job and I am immensely proud of the determination and professionalism shown by the officers and staff of the Police Service as they continue to serve the people of Northern Ireland in the face of significant resourcing pressures.”