Michelle’s hope for future of policing
First Minister sets precedent at PSNI graduation ceremony
and STORMONT First Minister Michelle O’neill has expressed hope that her attendance at a PSNI graduation ceremony will encourage more nationalists to join the police.
Ms O’neill said she believed it was the “right juncture” in the region’s “policing journey” for Sinn Fein to be represented at an attestation event for new recruits for the first time.
The Party’s vice-president became the North’s first ever nationalist First Minister last weekend when powersharing returned.
She broke new ground again yesterday when she and party colleague Gerry Kelly attended the passing out event at the PSNI training college in East Belfast.
DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly and Alliance Party Justice Minister Naomi Long were also among guests to watch on as six new recruits formally graduated as constables.
The presence of leading Sinn Fein figures comes amid police concerns at stalling efforts to boost Catholic representation in the PSNI, 23 years after its formation as part of peace process policing reforms.
The targeting of Catholic officers by violent dissident republicans has been cited as a key factor in falling numbers of applications from members of the nationalist community.
Ms O’neill said: “I think it’s so important our policing service reflects the diversity of the society we have, so I wanted to be here and be part of wishing these new constables the very best in their journey.
“I became First Minister last Saturday. I said I would be a First Minister for all and that includes these new constables who have graduated today.”
Ms O’neill suggested changes to the attestation ceremony in recent years were a factor in Sinn Fein deciding now was the time to attend. She also reflected on changes in policing across the last quarter of a century.
Ms O’neill said: “I think we are in a much, much better place – we look at the last 26 years of the Good Friday Agreement and how society has transformed.
“I hope my presence here today encourages young nationalists to come forward, but also women and people from minority backgrounds and members of the LGBTQ community – they need to be reflected in the service because this is a community service to support people out there.
Deputy First Minister Ms Littlepengelly said she wanted Northern Ireland to reach the point where politicians supporting the police was not a “big news story”.
She added: “In the St Andrews Agreement (2006), the DUP made it an absolute red line that before government, people should sign up to support policing and support the rule of law. I believe that is the right thing and was the right thing to do.
“And I think that today actually is a representation of how much that has been embedded.” PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher, said it was “fabulous for the organisation” to have the Ministers at the passing out event.
He added: “So I think what we need to focus on is the positives – this is normalisation of policing.
“We talk about representation, the PSNI needs to represent all of our communities, our emerging communities, so we get their trust and confidence.
“That’s the journey we’re on.”
I think we are in a much better place and society has transformed MICHELLE O’NEILL YESTERDAY AT PSNI PARADE