The Ulster Unionist Party’s Policing Board representative, Alan Chambers MLA, has welcomed support from Sir Hugh Orde for PSNI staffing levels to be increased to the 7,500 officers recommended by the Patten Report.
Alan Chambers MLA, who is himself a former RUC Reservist, said:
“For years now the Ulster Unionist Party has been calling for PSNI numbers to be increased to the 7,500 officers recommended by Patten, as a matter of urgency.
“Sir Hugh Orde’s recent intervention is therefore most welcome, and it is almost frightening to think that he had almost 9,000 officers available to him in 2002 and yet we are now down to 6,700. This is a completely unacceptable situation when you consider that Patten recommended 7,500 full time officers backed up by a Part Time Reserve of 2,500, giving a total of 10,000 officers.
“Given the uncertainties surrounding Brexit and the ongoing campaign against the Police from violent republican terrorists, a complement of 7,500 is the bare minimum that should be made available to the new Chief Constable Simon Byrne.”