More than 5,000 people requested PSNI application forms in just over two weeks in the latest police recruitment drive in the North, it was revealed today.
Details of the potential demand for places on the next recruitment training scheme emerged as Policing Board chairman Barry Gilligan urged young people considering a career in the service not to be deterred by the dissident republican threat.
He said: “Communities demand, and are entitled to, a good policing service that is responsive to meeting their needs.
The job of a police officer is about meeting those needs and providing that service. I would encourage people from all sections of our society to apply for these posts."
They will be challenging and there are those who want to drag us back to the past. However, this is a great opportunity to not only serve the community but to also shape the public views and perception of the policing service,” he said.
The latest 50-50 recruitment campaign is the 16th since 2001 and figures out today disclosed there had been a total of 5,232 requests for application forms in just over a fortnight. The campaign ends on February 12th.
The PSNI has around 7,315 officers, of which just over 70 per cent are Protestant and almost 28 per cent Catholic. Last year 9,850 applied to join the service, but just 219 were accepted.
Meanwhile the condition of Pc Peadar Heffron (34) who was blown up by a booby trap bomb under his car as he drove from his home in Randalstown, Co Antrim earlier this month, remains critical.
Police confirmed today he had regained consciousness and was showing signs of improvement.
PA