Committee publication · Report · 27 May 2026 · HC 184
1st Report - Policing and security in Northern Ireland
From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Policing and security in Northern Ireland
Government response deadline: 27 July 2026
Summary
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee examines the PSNI's 25-year evolution since Patten reforms in 2001. The report assesses funding constraints, workforce composition challenges, and security pressures. Key concerns include real-terms budget erosion since 2011, officer numbers fallen to dangerously low levels (6,190 in October 2025), stalled progress on Catholic and ethnic minority representation, and unmet legacy funding needs from Troubles-related cases costing £24m annually.
Key findings
- PSNI budget eroded by 27% in real terms between 2011–2018; reliance on one-year settlements and in-year allocations (15% of 2024–25 budget) undermines strategic planning.
- Officer numbers fell to 6,190 (October 2025), down 13% from 2010; various targets proposed (6,963–7,500) lack independent verification; Workforce Recovery Plan aims for 7,000 by 2028.
- Catholic representation stalled; ethnic minorities and working-class backgrounds remain underrepresented; 50:50 recruitment policy ended in 2011.
- Legacy investigations cost £24m annually; civil cases since 2018 cost £25m (£7.3m compensation, £17.7m legal fees); estimated £800m over 10 years for remaining 1,000+ cases; UK Government and Executive dispute funding responsibility.
- Treasury's unpublished 'open-book exercise' reported police spending per head in NI at 166% of England; lack of publication prevents scrutiny; new 124% Barnett needs factor included since 2024–25.
- Security threat from paramilitarism persists (New IRA attacks on Lurgan and Dunmurry stations); Katie Simpson review found serious failings in violence against women investigations; 30 women killed since 2020.
Recommendations
- PSNI's baseline budget for the start of the financial year should be adjusted to take into account in-year allocations from the preceding financial year.
- The 'open-book exercise' conducted by HM Treasury into Northern Ireland departmental spending must be published without delay.
- An independent comprehensive analysis should be commissioned to determine the most appropriate officer and staff numbers for policing in Northern Ireland, considering current and projected policing demand, evolving security situation, and comparison with other UK forces and An Garda Síochána.
- The PSNI should produce an action plan setting out how it plans to increase recruitment from underrepresented groups (Catholic, ethnic minority, working-class backgrounds).
- UK Government should create a new, recurring and ring-fenced funding stream to meet legacy costs within the PSNI, to be introduced no later than the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill receiving Royal Assent.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Jon Boutcher (Chief Constable), Northern Ireland Policing Board, Northern Ireland Department of Justice, Northern Ireland Office, HM Treasury, Sir George Hamilton (former Chief Constable)
Notable line
“If I go to the Secretary of State, he will say, "Jon, policing is devolved. That is a matter for the Executive". If I go to the Executive, understandably and fairly, they will say, "Jon, that was during direct rule.”
Key Quotes
“If I go to the Secretary of State, he will say, "Jon, policing is devolved. That is a matter for the Executive". If I go to the Executive, understandably and fairly, they will say, "Jon, that was during direct rule. That is Troubles-related. You need to go to the Secretary of State".”
“You've got both further in-year cuts, which happened sometimes during my tenure, and generally around two thirds of the way through the year you have easements, because Departments realise, "If we don't use this money we're going to lose it," effectively.”
“… a constant suck on money”
“A comprehensive bit of work is needed to tell us not just the numbers, but exactly the type of person that is needed to meet the demands that the service has now and going into the future.”
“… policing will remain in an unsatisfactory and counter-productive funding haze”
“… follow-up, HC 477 26 Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI0022 ) 10 their ability to detect and prosecute offenders and keep children safe".”
“Real community policing is impossible if the composition of the police service bears little relationship to the composition of the community as a whole”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗