Policing and security in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 24 Sep 2025 Parliament page
2026 marks 25 years since the establishment of the PSNI following the recommendations of the Patten review on policing. This inquiry will examine how far the objectives and aspirations of the Patten review have been realised, and explore the key challenges facing policing and security in Northern Ireland today—particularly in … Read more
3 Recommendations
15 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
27 May
2026
Report published
25 Mar
2026
Oral evidence
25 Mar
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
11 Mar
2026
Oral evidence
11 Mar
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
25 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
21 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
21 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 18, Palace of Westminster
10 Dec
2025
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
25 Mar 2026
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Davy Beck · Police Service of Northern Ireland Jon Boutcher QPM · Police Service of Northern Ireland
11 Mar 2026
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Gemma Davies · Durham University Gordon Summers · Home Office Miles Bonfield · National Crime Agency Rob Jones · National Crime Agency
25 Feb 2026
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Brendan Mullan · Northern Ireland Policing Board Mukesh Sharma MBE DL · Northern Ireland Policing Board Sinead Simpson · Northern Ireland Policing Board
21 Jan 2026
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Sir George Hamilton · PSNI Sir Hugh Orde · PSNI
10 Dec 2025
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Dr Jonny Byrne (Independent Reviewer of the exercised powers under the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 and of National Security Arrangements) Professor Marie Breen-Smyth (International Peace Education Resources)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Policing and security in Northern Ireland HC 184 27 May 2026 18 Pending
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
1 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
This year’s 25th anniversary of the creation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland provides...
This year’s 25th anniversary of the creation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland provides an important opportunity to reflect on the profound changes that have taken place in policing since the Patten report, and on the pivotal role the … Read more
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2 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
The real-terms erosion of the PSNI’s budget for nearly a decade has put the service...
The real-terms erosion of the PSNI’s budget for nearly a decade has put the service and officer numbers under immense strain. Northern Ireland Executive decision making—including the scale of health and education spending, reliance on successive one–year budgets, and periods … Read more
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3 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
The PSNI’s baseline budget for the start of the financial year should be adjusted to...
The 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. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)
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4 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
There has been recent cause for optimism, however, with the policing budget finally rising and...
There has been recent cause for optimism, however, with the policing budget finally rising and the allocation of ring-fenced funding for the PSNI Workforce Recovery Plan and data breach compensation costs. A new needs-based factor of 124 per cent is … Read more
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5 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
The confusion regarding the ownership of and responsibility for publication of the recent ‘open-book exercise’...
The confusion regarding the ownership of and responsibility for publication of the recent ‘open-book exercise’ is frustrating. The open book exercise must be published without delay. (Recommendation, Paragraph 25)
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6 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
Too much of the PSNI’s already stretched budget is being diverted to resource legacy investigations...
Too much of the PSNI’s already stretched budget is being diverted to resource legacy investigations and civil cases, which will only continue in the coming years. The costs of legacy to the PSNI are exceptional and should be treated as … Read more
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7 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
In light of which, the UK Government should create a new, recurring and ringfenced funding...
In light of which, the UK Government should create a new, recurring and ringfenced funding stream to meet legacy costs within the PSNI to prevent further funding being directed away from contemporary policing. This should be introduced as soon as … Read more
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8 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
There is a lack of clarity on the most appropriate number of police officers that...
There is a lack of clarity on the most appropriate number of police officers that should make up the PSNI today, with various analyses having been put forward in the past. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)
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9 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
An independent comprehensive analysis should be commissioned to determine the most appropriate officer and staff...
An independent comprehensive analysis should be commissioned to determine the most appropriate officer and staff numbers for policing in Northern Ireland today. This should include consideration of factors such as: • current and projected future policing demand; • the evolving … Read more
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10 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
In this anniversary year, it is important to reflect on and commend the PSNI for...
In this anniversary year, it is important to reflect on and commend the PSNI for the strides it has made in becoming a more representative police service since its formation in 2001, particularly during its first decade. We are concerned, … Read more
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11 Recommendation
1st Report - Policing and security…
We recommend that one of the few unimplemented reforms suggested by Patten, namely a pilot...
We recommend that one of the few unimplemented reforms suggested by Patten, namely a pilot cadet-type scheme between the police and young people, be reconsidered by the PSNI. We recommend also that the PSNI commission fresh research into the barriers … Read more
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12 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
Vocal support for policing and careers in the PSNI from political and civil society leaders...
Vocal support for policing and careers in the PSNI from political and civil society leaders has not been consistent from all communities in Northern Ireland. Support for policing should not take away from accountability or appropriate scrutiny where required. Political … Read more
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13 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
There is inadequate transparency around the criteria and factors used to determine the level of...
There is inadequate transparency around the criteria and factors used to determine the level of Additional Security Funding provided by the UK Government to the PSNI at Spending Reviews. Without the provision of 40 sufficient information to us by the … Read more
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14 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
The UK Government should, as far as it is able to, set out the criteria...
The UK Government should, as far as it is able to, set out the criteria considered when determining the level of Additional Security Funding provided to the PSNI and explain why Northern Ireland is not able to access the counter-terrorism … Read more
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15 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
Paramilitarism is an enduring and intolerable legacy of the Troubles which continues to threaten and...
Paramilitarism is an enduring and intolerable legacy of the Troubles which continues to threaten and harm communities across Northern Ireland. We plan to consider the findings of the scoping report of the Independent Expert into paramilitary group transition when it … Read more
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16 Recommendation
1st Report - Policing and security…
The Northern Ireland Executive should publish its plans for a successor to its Programme on...
The Northern Ireland Executive should publish its plans for a successor to its Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime, setting out: • how it intends to use the match-funded UK Government funding until 2028/29; • the future role and resourcing … Read more
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17 Conclusion
1st Report - Policing and security…
We are concerned about the increase in people smuggling and commercial exploitation across the land...
We are concerned about the increase in people smuggling and commercial exploitation across the land border on the island of Ireland. We will keep under review the expanded data sharing arrangements recently announced by the UK and Irish Governments. While … Read more
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18 Recommendation
1st Report - Policing and security…
The UK Government should publish figures for asylum applications in Northern Ireland as part of...
The UK Government should publish figures for asylum applications in Northern Ireland as part of its quarterly immigration system statistics. (Recommendation, Paragraph 77) 41
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