Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland area
Coverage
Area	Northern Ireland
Size	13,843 km²
Population	Approx 1.7 million
Operations
Formed	2001
HQ	Cherryvalley, Belfast
Officers	9,200
Regions	3
Stations	28
Chief Constable	Sir Hugh Orde
Website	PSNI website

Irish Police forces
Royal Irish Constabulary. (All Ireland police force 1822—1922)
Dublin Metropolitan Police (1836—1925).
Irish Republican Police (Irish Republic 1920—1922)
An Garda Síochána (Republic of Ireland 1922—present)
Royal Ulster Constabulary (Northern Ireland 1922—2001)
Police Service of Northern Ireland (2001—present)

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Irish: Seirbhís Póilíneachta Thuaisceart na hÉireann) is the police service that covers Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary a controversial police force^[1] which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary. Image File history File links PSNImap. ... Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Office... Cherryvalley is a suburb in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... Sir Hugh Stephen Orde OBE is the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). ... Image File history File links Img_psnibadge. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (573x841, 122 KB)Station badge of the Royal Irish Constabulary This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (573x841, 122 KB)Station badge of the Royal Irish Constabulary This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was one of Irelands two police forces in the early twentieth century, alongside the Dublin Metropolitan Police. ... The Dublin Metropolitan Police was formed in 1836, after twenty years of attempts to create an effective policing force in Ireland Rural policing in Ireland began when Chief Secretary for Ireland, Robert Peel created the Peace Preservation Force in 1816. ... Image File history File links Óglaigh_na_hÉireann. ... Image File history File links Óglaigh_na_hÉireann. ... The Irish Republican Police (IRP) was the police force of the Irish Republic. ... Image File history File links Gardaí.jpg‎ Garda Síochána badage, Author: An Garda Síochána, Source URL: http://www. ... Image File history File links Gardaí.jpg‎ Garda Síochána badage, Author: An Garda Síochána, Source URL: http://www. ... Garda Síochána na hÉireann (pronounced ; Irish for Peace Guard of Ireland, often rendered[1] as The Guardians of the Peace of Ireland) is the police force of the Republic of Ireland. ... Image File history File links This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links This work is copyrighted. ... The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. ... Image File history File links Img_psnibadge. ... Image File history File links Img_psnibadge. ... Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official languages English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Office... The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. ... The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was one of Irelands two police forces in the early twentieth century, alongside the Dublin Metropolitan Police. ...

The PSNI was created on Sunday, 4 November 2001, as a result of a Policing Review set up under the Belfast Agreement. This agreement required the creation of an Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, which became known as the Patten Commission after its chairman, Chris Patten. November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process. ... The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland was established in 1998, as part of the Belfast Agreement. ... Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944) is a prominent British Conservative politician and a Patron of the Tory Reform Group. ...

All major political parties in Northern Ireland, Nationalist and Unionist support the PSNI. At first the political party Sinn Féin, which represents about a quarter of Northern Ireland voters, had refused to endorse the PSNI until Patten's recommendations are implemented in full. However, as part of the St Andrews Agreement Sinn Féin announced its full acceptance of the Police Service of Northern Ireland at a special Ard Fheis on the issue of policing on the 28 January 2007.[1] Sinn Féin (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... The St Andrews Agreement is an agreement proposed by the British and Irish Governments in relation to devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly. ...

The other major nationalist party in the region, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has joined the Northern Ireland Policing Board and says that it is satisfied that the Patten recommendations are being implemented. In the summer of 2005, the SDLP's Alex Attwood estimated that 80% of Patten's recommendations have been implemented. Irish nationalism refers to political movements that desire greater autonomy or the independence of Ireland from Great Britain. ... The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP — Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is the smaller of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland. ... The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. ... Alex Attwood MLA (Born 26 April 1959) is a Northern Ireland politician. ...

In September 2005 the PSNI established the Historical Enquiries Team to investigate the 3,269 unsolved murders committed during the Troubles. The Historical Enquiries Team is a unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland set up in September 2005 to investigate the 3,269 unsolved murders committed during the Troubles (specifically between 1968 and 1998). ... The Troubles is a term used to describe two periods of violence in Ireland during the twentieth century. ...

On 22 January 2007 a report by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland stated that the Special Branch of the then Royal Ulster Constabulary had colluded ^[2] with loyalist paramilitaries in a number of murders and attempted murders in Northern Belfast between 1989-2002. [2] The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman provides an independent, impartial police complaints system for the people and police under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 and 2000. ... The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. ... Loyalist paramilitaries are extra-legal groups in Northern Ireland that use violence to ensure the region remains in the United Kingdom. ...

Accountability

The PSNI is supervised by the Northern Ireland Policing Board. The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. ...

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland deals with any complaints regarding the PSNI and investigates any allegations of serious misconduct by police officers. The current Police Ombudsman is Nuala O'Loan. The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman provides an independent, impartial police complaints system for the people and police under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 and 2000. ... Nuala OLoan the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland Nuala OLoan is the first Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. ...

The Oversight Commissioner ensures that the Patten recommendations are implemented 'comprehensively and faithfully' and attempts to assure the community that all aspects of the report are being implemented and being seen to be implemented.

Recruitment

The PSNI has a positive discrimination policy (that is illegal in the UK), of recruiting 50% of its officers from a Roman Catholic background and 50% from "others", in order to reverse the serious religious imbalance that existed in the RUC as recommended by the Patten Report. The name and symbols of the organisation are designed to avoid alienating either major community. By 2006, 20% of PSNI officers were Catholic, compared with just 8.3% of the old RUC ^[3]. Affirmative action (US English), or positive discrimination (British English), is a policy or a program providing advantages for people of a minority group who are seen to have traditionally been discriminated against. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland was established in 1998 as part of the Belfast Agreement, intended as a major step in the Northern Ireland peace process. ...

Policies

In September 2006, it was confirmed that Assistant Chief Constable Judith Gillespie approved the PSNI policy of using children as informants including in exceptional circumstances to inform on their own family but not their parents. The document added safeguards included having a parent or "appropriate adult" present at meetings between juveniles and their handler. It also stressed a child's welfare should be paramount when considering the controversial tactics and required that any risk had been properly explained to them and a risk assessment completed [3].

Uniform and equipment

The colour of the PSNI uniform is bottle green.

The PSNI badge features the saltire of St Patrick, and six symbols representing different and shared traditions: a crown, a harp, a shamrock, scales of justice, a torch and a laurel leaf. The arms of St Albans: Azure, a saltire Or (a gold saltire on a blue field) For The Saltire (proper noun) see Flag of Scotland. ... Statue of Saint Patrick Saint Patrick (died March 17, 462, 492, or 493), is the patron saint of Ireland. ...

Unlike the majority of Police Forces in the United Kingdom, the PSNI is the only service that patrols an entire regional area routinely armed [4]. With the reduction of terrorist threats, officers are issued with GLOCK 17 semi-automatic pistols. Previously they frequently carried long arms either the Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun or rifles such as Heckler & Koch G3s or HK33s as well as Ruger Mini-14 select fire rifles. Tasers were once considered, but the idea was abandoned after the Ombudsman said there was no need for them [5] The Glock 17 was the first pistol designed and manufactured by the Austrian company Glock. ... It has been suggested that Heckler & Koch MP5K be merged into this article or section. ... The G3 (which stands for Gewehr 3, or Rifle #3) is a family of select fire battle rifles manufactured by Heckler & Koch. ... This article is about an automatic rifle. ... Mini-14 Ranch Rifle (note folding leaf rear sight) with flush 5 round magazine The Mini-14 is a small, lightweight semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger. ... An electro-shock gun, also referred to as a stun-gun or in the case of the projectile enabled Taser, are used for subduing a body by administering electric shock to disrupt superficial muscle functions. ...

Other items of equipment include bar-link handcuffs, CS Spray, extendable batons and flashlights Green Flashlight Note that Flashlight is the NATO designation for the Yakovlev Yak-25 Soviet military jet. ...

In May 2005 the PSNI took delivery of its first helicopter, a Eurocopter EC 135. The PSNI (and the RUC) relied heavily on British Army helicopter support during the Troubles and into the 21st century. The helicopter will be used for pursuit, search for missing persons and for managing parades/demonstrations etc. The EC 135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services, and for executive transport. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... For the UK post-rock band, see Troubles (band) The Troubles is a term used to describe the latest installment of periodic communal violence involving Republican and Loyalist paramilitary organisations, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), the British Army and others in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s until the late...

The service's headquarters are located close to Cherryvalley, in east Belfast. Cherryvalley is a suburb in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ...

Chief Constables

The senior officer in charge of the PSNI is its Chief Constable. To date this position has been held by three people: Chief Constable is the title given to the commanding officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except the two responsible for Greater London. ...

• Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan OBE, from the formation of the PSNI. Flanagan was previously the Chief Constable of the RUC.
• Acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn, from 1 April 2002. Cramphorn was formerly Flanagan's deputy, and with Flanagan's resignation Cramphorn acted as Chief Constable while the Policing Board sought a permanent replacement. Cramphorn is believed to have turned down the post of Chief Constable due to the political expectations that he was required to fulfil, but which he apparently believed were inappropriate at that time.
• Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde OBE, from 29 May 2002. Cramphorn continued as Orde's deputy until September 2002, when he was appointed Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan GBE (born March 25, 1949) was the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland since its creation in 2001 to 2002, and had been Chief Constable of its predecessor, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, since 1996. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Sir Hugh Stephen Orde OBE is the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... West Yorkshire Police is the police force covering West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. ...

References

Weitzer, Ronald. 1995. Policing Under Fire: Ethnic Conflict and Police-Community Relations in Northern Ireland (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press).

Weitzer, Ronald. 1996. “Police Reform in Northern Ireland,” Police Studies, v.19, no.2. pages:27-43.

Weitzer, Ronald. 1992. “Northern Ireland's Police Liaison Committees,” Policing and Society, vol.2, no.3, pages 233-243.

1. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/ruc_reform/780311.stm
2. ^ Police Ombudsman’s report Proletarian - CPGB-ML
3. ^ Catholics now comprise fifth of PSNI officers — The Irish Times newspaper article, 24 July 2006

The Irish Times is Irelands newspaper of record, launched in the late 1850s. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ...

See also

• Policing in the United Kingdom
• UK topics
• List of Government departments and agencies in Northern Ireland

A Police Constable of West Yorkshire Police on patrol The United Kingdom is a unitary (as opposed to federal) state, and police forces, generally speaking, are organised at the level of administrative districts. ... This is a list of topics related to the United Kingdom. ... List of Government departments and agencies in Northern Ireland This article is a list of Northern Ireland government Departments and their Agencies and other related organisations (listed underneath each Department) (at September 2006): // Government departments and agencies These Departments are subject to the Northern Ireland Assembly, when it is in...

External links

• Police Service of Northern Ireland
• The badge and flag of the PSNI
• Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland website
• PSNI Roll of Honour