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PSNI chief says Sinn Féin appearance at police recruitment drive 'seismic and historic'

Sinn Féin deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill said the PSNI had to be “reflective of the community it serves”.

THE ATTENDANCE OF a Sinn Féin leader at a police recruitment drive in Northern Ireland has been hailed as “seismic and historic” by the region’s chief constable.

Stormont Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill joined Simon Byrne and other commanders at the event at the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s training college in east Belfast this morning.

Along with DUP First Minister Arlene Foster she posed for pictures holding posters advocating policing as a positive career choice.

It is the first occasion such a senior Sinn Fein figure has attended a recruitment campaign launch for the PSNI and comes amid concern that progress to address under-representation of Catholic officers in the organisation has stalled and is starting to go in a backward direction.

“I think it’s seismic and historic in terms of the history of the PSNI and the commitment we have heard from Sinn Féin today, and indeed all political leaders who have joined us in this launch,” said Byrne.

Police commanders did not know until less than an hour before her arrival that the republican leader would be attending the launch of the campaign to recruit 600 new officers.

Sinn Féin had previously been accused of not doing enough to advocate policing as a career.

Dissident republican targeting of Catholic officers is a key factor in the falling numbers of applications from members of the nationalist community in Northern Ireland.

Byrne, who had urged nationalist and republican leaders to be more vocal in promoting the police, said: “We have called for that support in the past and now people have stood up to that challenge and stepped forward and are encouraging people to join the PSNI so I think it’s an historic day not just for policing but for Northern Ireland.”

O’Neill, who was joined by Sinn Féin policing spokesman Gerry Kelly, said she wanted to achieve a police service that was more representative of the community it serves.

“Clearly the PSNI have launched a very significant, intensive recruitment campaign and we are here because it is no secret that nationalists are under-represented in the police service, that Catholics are under-represented in the police service and, if we are going to have a police service that commands community confidence, then it needs to be reflective of the community it serves, so we are here because of that reason,” she said.

The Deputy First Minister said she wanted to see a return of the controversial 50:50 positive discrimination tool that ensures the PSNI recruits Catholics and Protestants in equal numbers.

She said steps also needed to be taken to address under-representation of women and members of ethnic minorities.

Asked if she would encourage young Catholics to join the police, O’Neill replied: “I think the fact that I am here today speaks volumes in terms of what I am trying to do – we need a PSNI that is reflective of the community in which it serves.”

She highlighted that only one out of every five Catholics who apply for the PSNI is successful.

“There is a big issue here in terms of Catholics being successful in the recruitment process,” she added.

86f53fb6-df6b-415a-a254-9106d3b303e2 Michelle O’Neill joined Chief Constable Simon Byrne, First Minister Arlene Foster at the recruitment launch today David Young / PA Images David Young / PA Images / PA Images

DUP leader Foster welcomed the Sinn Féin move.

“I think it is important because there have been a lot of conversations about the fact that we need to have a police service that reflects Northern Ireland society so I think it’s important that, as leaders, we show leadership and come along to these events to support our police service, so that is significant and I very much welcome it,” she said.

She said the fact there were representatives from across society at the event sent a “very powerful message”.

Foster said it was the “next step” in Sinn Féin’s journey in supporting the police.

“We had been concerned that there hadn’t been members coming along to recruitment and indeed graduation ceremonies so I welcome the fact that Sinn Fein are here today because I think it sends out a good message,” she said.

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    Mute Paul
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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:36 PM

    RIP GBBO

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    Mute Chris
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:07 PM

    I think Mel and Due are as good as Ant and Dec. They should do more shows together.

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    Mute Chris
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:07 PM

    *Sue

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:22 PM

    “…..as good as Ant and Dec” Worst. Recommendation. Ever. Lol!

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    Mute Chris
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:41 PM

    As good as Cannon.and Ball..better?

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:58 PM

    As good as Little and Large?

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    Mute Chris
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    Sep 13th 2016, 10:52 PM

    How about the Crankies? :)

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    Mute Neal not Neil
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    Sep 14th 2016, 9:11 AM

    They recwntly did a daily chat show together that failed miserably.

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    Mute Blind Faith
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:41 PM

    It won’t be as enjoyable to watch without Mel & Sue’s little quips, and then of course on C4 there’ll be all the stupid ads spun through it. The show will probably sink when it moves . . . Just like one of them less than successful Victoria sponge cakes, when they opened the oven door to soon.

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:06 PM

    Maybe they should present Top Gear seeing how it was a half baked effort last season

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    Sep 13th 2016, 9:49 PM

    “A head-scarf wearing Bangladeshi baker”?!

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    Mute Angela Twohig
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    Sep 13th 2016, 11:21 PM

    I am so saddened to hear this…love Mel and Sue just won’t be the same without them..wonder what Paul and Mary will do…hope production company see sense….they may regret moving to Channel 4 without the original presentets

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Sep 14th 2016, 3:28 PM

    Maybe Mel and Sue have signed separate binding contracts with the BBC not to work for rival broadcasters. When Big Brother moved from Channel 4 to Channel 5, Davina McCall couldn’t move with with it, she could only present Channel 4 shows. She went on to present other Channel 4 shows like The Big Drop.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:00 PM

    They will be on the breadline in no time.

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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:37 PM

    A fundamentalist Muslim is being hailed as an inspirational symbol of 21st century Britain? Sounds about right

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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:42 PM

    Aldough there was love there there was dough there to dough.

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    Mute Mervyn Nutley
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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:58 PM

    She isn’t a “fundamentalist Muslim” she a muslim’ and you are a bigot!

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    Mute Colin Moran
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    Sep 13th 2016, 8:32 PM

    Homer’s imp son?
    More like Homer’s gimp son.

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Sep 13th 2016, 10:40 PM

    making cakes is prime time tv…..thanks be to jebus for netflix

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    Mute Graham Quinn
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    Sep 14th 2016, 1:22 AM

    Never mind sure we still have the great Irish bake off eh? No ? Eh ?

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    Mute Sean Kelly
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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:49 PM

    Is ” goatee ” aka Paul Hollywood leaving too? And the old dear??

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    Sep 14th 2016, 11:25 AM

    Read the article.

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    Mute Susan O'Grady
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    Sep 13th 2016, 10:18 PM

    I’m sure Irish Water and/or the government are to blame for this debacle!

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    Sep 13th 2016, 10:25 PM

    Swing and a miss

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    Sep 13th 2016, 7:28 PM

    If you can’t stand the heat ……..

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    Sep 13th 2016, 11:43 PM

    Hate this show. How fan you fill an hour critiquing a flan?

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    Sep 14th 2016, 10:47 AM

    Great, It’s going to take about 3 hours to show it if they want to fit all the content with the ad breaks. Plus Paul and Mary have other shows on BBC so I can’t see them moving. Looks like the end of the road.

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    Sep 14th 2016, 12:39 AM

    What a Relief – What an Article – d 2 of them.

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    Sep 14th 2016, 4:01 AM

    Soggy Bottoms, Creamy Buns….oh, how hilarious !

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