PSNI familiarisation events for recruits

It is almost three and a half years since our last recruitment campaign and our expectation is that this competition will allow us to make up to initially 100 appointments in the financial year 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2014. Arrangements are currently being put in place to maximise police recruitment up to 378 additional officers within 2014/15, if and when additional funds are made available.

As one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland, we feel that we can offer a challenging but rewarding career, with opportunities to work with communities and partners to make Northern Ireland safe, confident and peaceful.

We are looking for people who can commit to a career of public service, and play their part in a dynamic and forward thinking organisation.

As part of this focus, the Police Service will be undertaking a series of familiarisation sessions throughout Northern Ireland including the Londonderry/Derry county area.

The familiarisation sessions aim to promote awareness among and encourage applications from under-represented groups. The Police Service of Northern Ireland continually strives to be representative of the entire community, and our priorities in the forthcoming campaign will be to encourage applications from the following groups:

• Young people – reflecting the need to address the age profile of the organisation, which is increasing as a result of no recruitment for more than three years.

• Fermanagh, Tyrone and Londonderry/Derry– increasing applicant flow from these areas will allow greater flexibility in the allocation of police resources, and better resilience for local community policing

• The Catholic community – The Police Service of Northern Ireland is ready and willing to work in partnership with local politicians and community leaders, to build on the progress towards a truly representative workforce.

• Areas of social deprivation – in an effort to increase the traditionally low response rates previously.

Speaking about the recruitment process, Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin, G District Commander, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the people within the local area to get involved in policing. Becoming a police officer is a challenging career, but it is not just a job, it is a vocation.

“I would encourage anyone who is interested in joining the Police Service to come along to the familiarisation events and get further details about the recruitment process and what it takes to be an officer.”

Each of the familiarisation events starts at 9:30am and lasts for one hour. Each session consists of an overview of the application and selection process and a guide to the physical competency requirements.