Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie MC, has called on the PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton, to reflect on the words he used in a tweet late on Saturday night, and the effect which his comments could have on police morale and public confidence.
Doug Beattie, who is the Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, said:
“In a twitter conversation late on Saturday night, the Chief Constable told a PSNI officer who raised concerns about the increasing pressures placed on officers, to stop ‘wallowing in self pity’ and ‘you're allowed to leave & seek another job - nobody is asking you to stay. Dry your eyes, do the job or move on!’
“I believe that in this instance the Chief Constable was wrong. Policing is more complex now than it has ever been. Officers are expected to do more than was ever first envisaged and here in Northern Ireland it is even more unique and challenging than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Therefore it is important for society to understand those challenges and it is doubly important that those who run our police service understand the concerns of the workforce.
“There are genuine concerns within the rank and file of the Northern Ireland police service that officers are being used to fill the gaps that other services should be filling. That includes being a medical first responder, dealing with mental health and social service issues, and all while delivering policing services within our communities fragmented by terrorism, paramilitary activity and a divided society.
“I have incredible respect for our police force and all those who serve in it, and I have had first-hand experience of seeing just what they have to deal with and the mental effects this can have on individual officers. Therefore I am incredibly disappointed by the PSNI Chief Constable’s response on Twitter to genuine concerns, stating that officers should get on with it, stop wallowing in self-pity, dry your eyes or leave.
“This attitude of ‘we will make do regardless’ has seen the PSNI budget cut again by 2%. It has seen its policing levels - which were set by the Patten report at 7,500 - remain 600 officers short, not counting those on long term sick leave. It has allowed our Justice Minister to promise the delivery of more Neighbourhood policing without increasing police resources, which in turn could lead to paramilitaries policing our streets. But worse of all, it has led our proud police service morale to plummet in some areas.
“I do not envy the job of the PSNI Chief Constable. He has a difficult task on his hands with an ever decreasing budget and political masters who are slow to make decisions. But there comes a time when he must say enough is enough and stand up for his officers when they raise genuine concerns. I hope he reflects on his poorly formulated tweet, deletes it and makes it known that he is not a ‘carry on regardless’ Chief Constable but a man of integrity who will not allow our service to degrade to little more than a political football. The brave men and women of the PSNI deserve better than that.”