Justice Minister praises courage and professionalism of PSNI officers

In her address to the Police Federation of Northern Ireland (PFNI) annual conference, Naomi Long praised officers for their commitment and bravery following dissident attacks in Lurgan and Dunmurry.

The Minister said: “The ability of the PSNI officers to immediately and effectively respond in such dangerous circumstances, protecting life and our communities, demonstrates the commitment to the role. Public confidence is strengthened not by the absence of threat, but by the visible competence and bravery of those responding to it.”

Addressing officers, Minister Long pledged her commitment to strengthen the legal protections for police officers who face violence in the line of duty through the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill, which was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly in March.

The legislation creates a new offence of assaulting a person performing a public duty or delivering a public service. It will carry stronger maximum penalties and provides for a statutory aggravator so that the fact the victim was a serving officer is clearly recognised during sentencing.

Ms Long said: “I believe that violence directed at police officers is not only an attack on the individual – it is an attack on the rule of law and on the safety of the wider community.

“As PSNI officers you deserve respect, protection and the full backing of the justice system. Through this Bill, and through continued engagement with policing partners, I will continue to work to ensure that our laws stand firmly behind those who stand on the frontline for all of us. I remain confident that the Bill will complete its passage before the end of the current mandate and receive Royal Assent shortly thereafter.”

The Justice Minister also made clear that she would continue to press for the necessary resource that is needed to deliver the best possible policing service, but this was against a bleak financial backdrop.

“In this coming year alone, we are projecting resource stabilisation pressures in excess of £100m and that is before taking account of further exceptional liabilities. To be blunt, I have never known the financial picture to be as bad as it is right now,” she said.

“We cannot overlook the ongoing impact of funding investigations into the legacy of our past. The PSNI estimates the cost of legacy litigation alone to be £100 million. That is funding that could be redirected elsewhere to ease some of the significant pressures being felt day in and day out from right across the justice system.

“No other police force has to deal with these hangovers from the past and I am clear that we cannot continue to absorb these costs any longer. We must ensure we have adequate funding to support all investigations and ensure that we can protect our communities in the present. I do not accept that these costs are ours to bear and I am determined that it is the UK Government – not the Executive – that should provide proper and adequate funding to deal with legacy issues.”

Ms Long stressed that despite the difficult financial situation facing the Department, she has consistently prioritised funding for the PSNI, whilst being mindful of the pressures elsewhere within the Justice system.

She said: “Through representations during recent monitoring rounds, we were able to secure additional in year PSNI funding allocations of £69 million in 2023/24 and a further £73 million in 2024/25.

“My strategic priority is to support the recovery and stabilisation of the workforce, enabling PSNI to recruit, retain and develop high quality officers while working to support morale, wellbeing and operational resilience.

“I am therefore pleased to see the initial impacts of year one of the recovery plan with officer numbers standing at 6,315 as of start of this month up from a historic low of 6,190 towards the end of 2025. While there remains a great deal of work ahead, to achieve a fully recovery for police numbers, it is comforting to see the initial steps of the plan coming to fruition.”

The Minister also reflected on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the PSNI.

“PSNI officers have played a central role in supporting peace, stability and public confidence during a period of profound change,” said Ms Long. “Policing in Northern Ireland has never been straightforward, and those who serve here do so in a complex environment shaped by legacy issues, a continuing security threat and intense public and political scrutiny.

“Throughout this period, you have worked tirelessly to protect communities, disrupt organised crime and terrorism and support victims, all whilst responding to the growing range of challenges facing modern policing. You have done so while navigating the expectations that come with policing in a post‑conflict society, where legitimacy, fairness and community trust are paramount.”