The Northern Ireland Policing Board (the Board) has published the Strategic Outcomes for Policing in Northern Ireland 2016-2020 and the Policing Plan 2016-17.
It is important for the Board to have a longer term vision for policing and while the Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016 - 2020 outlines what the Board want the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to focus on at a strategic level over the next four years, the Policing Plan 2016 - 17 will deliver incremental changes and improvements towards the achievement of these in the next year.
Speaking about the Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016 - 2020 Board Chair Anne Connolly said:“These 12 Strategic Outcomes developed in partnership with the PSNI outline what we collectively believe needs to be achieved over the next four years and fall within five overarching themes. Policing with the Community is fundamental to providing an effective police service and this ethos has been central to developing these outcomes for policing. We have also taken a wide range of community views and experiences of policing into account. This has included extensive consultation with members of the public and section 75 groups from across Northern Ireland to identify priorities for policing in the next 4 years.”
Within the Policing Plan 2016-17 there are high level associated performance measures attached to each of these 12 Strategic Outcomes. These are underpinned by a series of lower level quantitative and qualitative measures. Mrs Connolly added: “In developing this Plan we have taken into account the increased financial pressures facing the police and emphasised the importance of partnership working in service delivery.
Increasing trust and confidence in policing and improving the level and quality of police engagement with communities are to the fore in this Plan. There is also a focus on protecting vulnerable people most at risk including increasing outcomes in relation to Hate Crime and crimes against older people, in particular burglary. To reduce offending there are performance measures in place to tackle organised crime and the emerging threat from cyber-related crime, human exploitation and trafficking.
The Focus of this plan day-to-day policing and it does not reflect the cost of policing the past. The Board has expressed support for the measures relating to dealing with legacy issues included in the Stormont House Agreement. However, we also recognise there are differing opinions as to how these measures should be implemented and we urge all concerned to work towards an agreed approach to dealing with the past.
While this is a challenging Plan we believe it is achievable and we will work with the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships, statutory, voluntary and community groups to deliver an effective police service to all.”
Speaking about the Policing Plan 2016-17 and the Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016 – 2020, Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable George Hamilton said: “We are operating in an environment of austerity. The PSNI’s 2015/16 budget had a reduction of £26.2m on the previous year. This presents challenges. To protect Police and Staff numbers and to achieve a balanced budget for 2016-17, will require a cut in the region of 10% to non-staff budgets. We are prioritising our resources to the greatest threat, risk, harm and opportunity in order to Keep People Safe.
Policing is delivered in partnership with communities and the Policing Plan 2016-17 and the Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016-2020 provide a framework for directing resources to crime types and harm issues that have been identified as priorities by our communities. By working collaboratively with our partners and our communities we will continue to play our part in Keeping People Safe.”
Over the coming year the Board will oversee and scrutinise PSNI performance through a monitoring framework and will report on all aspects of this Plan to ensure the community receives the professional, accountable policing service which it rightly expects.
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For further information please contact the Board’s Communications Office on 07801 738795
Notes to editors
Strategic Outcomes for Policing in Northern Ireland 2016-2020
- Section 25(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 provides for the Board to determine the objectives for the policing of Northern. To comply with its statutory duty the Board has developed a number of Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016 – 2020.
- A copy of the Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016 – 2020 can be downloaded from the Policing Board website at: www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/files/nipolicingboard/media-files/Strategic-outcomes-for-policing-2016-2020.pdf
- Policing Plan 2016-17
- The Policing Plan 2016-17 is produced in accordance with the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. It is prepared by the Chief Constable, agreed and published by the Policing Board following consultation with the Minister of Justice.
- Monitoring the Policing Plan: A Monitoring framework has been developed which will allow the Board to monitor police performance against the overarching themes in the Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016-20. A full analysis of PSNI performance against all Policing Plan targets will be published in the Northern Ireland Policing Board Annual Report and in online media.
- Paying for the Plan: The total budget which is available to PSNI to deliver the Policing Plan during 2016-17 is £668.4m resource budget and £17m capital. Additional security funding from Treasury/NI Executive totals £64.3m.
- Local Policing Plans: Each PSNI District Commander, having consulted with the local PCSP, issues a local policing plan that, as well being consistent with the overall Policing Plan for Northern Ireland, sets out the policing priorities and measures for the area.
- A copy of the Policing Plan 2016-17 can be downloaded from the PolicingBoard website at www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/files/nipolicingboard/media-files/Policing-Plan-2016-17.pdf
- Caption: Board Chair Anne Connolly, Chief Constable George Hamilton and Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris pictured holding the recently published Strategic Outcomes for Policing 2016-2020 and the Policing Plan 2016-17.
Notes to editors ends.