Consultation launched on draft policing plan for Northern Ireland

Views are being sought from the public, and those who work with the police, on the draft plan, which contains the following three outcomes for policing over the next five years:

• The PSNI is victim focused;
• We have safe and engaged communities with confidence in policing; and
• The PSNI has a representative, valued and enabled workforce.

An online consultation has opened and a number of engagement events will be held across Northern Ireland between now and the end of the consultation period on December 10, 2024.

NIPB vice-chair Brendan Mullan said: “Both the Board and the chief constable have spoken at great length about the challenges facing policing over the last five years.

“This plan gives us an opportunity to turn our attention to the future, and how we hope policing and police oversight will serve the people of Northern Ireland and help create safe and engaged communities. We also need to make sure that the PSNI as an organisation is properly resourced and enabled to deliver on the outcomes set so that the community can have confidence in the service being delivered.

“This plan focuses on the positive changes we can make to enable PSNI to deliver the service that the public expect and deserve.

“The Policing Plan is an important part of delivering a safer community in Northern Ireland, but it is not the only part. We must continue to work in partnership across all levels of society, to create the future we want.”

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “This Policing Plan consultation is a key document and sets out what we, as your Police Service and Policing Board, want to achieve in the next five years.

“It reflects our strategic direction, what we are going to do and how we are going to do it. As we do the job of keeping people safe and tackling crime we will be focused on outcomes in three key areas: supporting victims, making communities safer and enabling and supporting our workforce.

“We cannot deliver effective policing without the support of the public and our partners. Particularly now, against the backdrop of increasingly limited resources and growing demand, it is crucial that everyone takes this opportunity to shape our plans for the future of Policing.

“I urge anyone with an interest in making Northern Ireland a safer place to live and work to take this opportunity to engage and share their views.”

You can provide your views here: https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/doj/policing-plan-consultation/