PSNI capacity continues to be compromised by budget reductions

Long-term budget reductions and uncertainty around the budget is impacting the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) operational capacity, an inspection report has found.

It warned that budget reductions and periods of no recruitment have led to a decline in officer numbers, made worse by high levels of sickness and adjustments to duties.

The report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) highlighted how this uncertainty means the PSNI often doesn't know its operating budget until halfway through the financial year.

Lee Freeman, from HMICFRS, said it also affects "the timeliness of inflation-related pay awards" .

"Such delays continue to have an impact on workforce morale," Freeman said.

Stormont ministers have failed to agree a budget for the current financial year, with departments operating on contingency budgets since April.

The PSNI is currently operating with about 6,300 officers.

Under its workforce recovery plan, it aims to increase that to 7,000 by 2028.

Amid this financial uncertainty, the government recently provided the PSNI with an emergency, one-off £4 million funding package following a spate of public disorder last month.

Inspectors also found the service frequently uses overtime and cancels officers rest days in order to meet operational demand.

Neighbourhood teams told inspectors they were short-staffed and were often moved from shifts at short notice to help local policing teams.

The report states this "continues to contribute to high levels of fatigue and burnout".

"Short-notice changes of duty and a requirement to work overtime often had negative effects on officers' work-life balance and contributed to stress and anxiety," the report said.

Whilst, the PSNI has restarted officer and staff recruitment, Freeman said "the service predicts it will take several years before it can restore enough capacity in specialist areas".

Adding that, in the meantime, the PSNI will not "have enough detectives to meet demand" and there is a risk that ongoing workload pressures will affect officers' willingness to stay.

The inspectors outlined serious concerns about high levels of mental health-related absences and the high proportion of officers applying for ill-health retirement.

The report found the PSNI is "committed to supporting workforce health and well-being and offers an extensive range of psychological well-being resources".

However, it suggests the service should assess the psychological risks associated with its roles and to introduce a structured screening programme.

Between 2020 and 2025, average officer sickness absence increased from around 11 to 21 days per year. Of those absences, around 52% were linked to psychological factors.

At the time of the inspection, officers and staff who had been referred for mental health support faced a four-month wait to be seen.

The report also stated that officers' use of force and stop and search powers was reasonable and proportionate but that record keeping and standards of supervision needed to improve.

The PSNI's policy guidance includes an expectation that supervisors will review all stop and search cases involving someone under the age of 18.

"In four out of five searches of children that we reviewed, no supervisor's review was evident," the report stated.

"This is concerning and doesn't maximise safeguarding opportunities for young people who come into contact with the service."

In a statement, the PSNI has "welcomed" the HMICFRS's findings.

They said the report grades the PSNI as "adequate" in the two areas inspected: attracting, developing and retaining the workforce and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and using powers fairly, appropriately and with justification.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said, while it might seem unusual to welcome a grade "adequate", the inspection "makes clear this performance comes in a context of long-term budget reductions and uncertain funding arrangements".

He said HMICFRS have recognised underfunding has led to record low officer and high levels of fatigue and burnout.

In this context, Singleton said the PSNI's level of performance is "remarkable".

"I was particularly pleased to read the independent Inspectorate's finding that PSNI's use of force and stop and search powers was reasonable and proportionate and that our officers were found to have been professional and courteous while using these powers."

He said he hoped the public can "take some confidence" from the findings.

"The Inspectors have acknowledged our continuing ambition to becoming fully representative of the community we serve as well as the innovative work ongoing to help families and loved ones support officers health and well-being," he added.

Singleton said the PSNI is committed to improving the range of health and wellbeing services and support on offer, adding: "We value our people. They are our greatest resource."

"I want to thank His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Lee Freeman KPM and his team for their work and we will now consider how we take forward each the areas for improvement they have highlighted," he said.

Liam Kelly, the chair of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, said the report was a "clear, unmistakable and appalling indictment" of the failure of government to properly fund and support the PSNI.

He said both Stormont and Westminster should "hang their heads in shame".

"Our colleagues are plugging gaps, doing the impossible, working too many hours to back-fill, are experiencing burnout and ill health and have their private lives upended," Mr Kelly said.

"We're not scare-mongering when we say the service is close to tipping point.

"On the evidence presented so far, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a deliberate run-down of policing services in Northern Ireland."

Mr Kelly said the PSNI is heading into "unchartered waters", adding that he fears that without urgent intervention government "we will witness further marked deterioration and decline".

Justice Minister Naomi Long has also welcomed the report.

She said the report "highlights the significant operational pressures linked to funding, workforce capacity, wellbeing and supervision".

"But despite these ongoing challenges it is pleasing to note that the report recognises the continued professionalism and commitment of PSNI officers and staff," Long said.

"The PSNI continues to face severe resource challenges due to years of budget constraints," she added.

"I have consistently and repeatedly highlighted the funding deficit faced by the PSNI and the Department of Justice. We simply cannot address these shortcomings without the appropriate funding."