TACKLING MISOGYNY / ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
At the April Accountability meeting with the Chief Constable, questions focused on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), as well as recent reports including the PONI Abuse of Position for Sexual Purpose by police officers, Operation Roric which was initiated by PSNI following the Angiolini Review of the Metropolitan Police, and the Langdale Review, which was a report commissioned by the Chief Constable to provide independent scrutiny, constructive challenge and assurance to the PSNI.
Misogynistic and predatory behaviours wherever they manifest must be challenged and dealt with. Today, Board focus was brought to actions being taken by the Chief Constable and the leadership team in light of a number of significant reports, and the Langdale Review which provides areas for action within PSNI as an organisation, and in external delivery of the policing service in tackling VAWG.
The Langdale Review makes a number of significant recommendations and Board Members welcome the Chief Constable’s categoric acceptance of those, and the finding that there is an issue with misogyny. As Baroness Casey said in her 2023 review of the Metropolitan Police tackling this requires radical leadership, accountability, and systemic change.
There is no room in PSNI for misogyny or any other inappropriate or predatory behaviours. For our part, the Board working with the PSNI, have strengthened the PSNI Code of Ethics in these areas so that there is no ambiguity, and the Chief Constable has made it clear that individuals engaged in such behaviours will be dealt with robustly.
The Board will be using the forthcoming Board meetings to receive updates actions on the reports discussed today and this will be reported publicly. Transparency is essential to providing assurance to the public on this issue, and to the officers and staff, that such behaviour is unacceptable so that the officers and staff who do their job professionally, ethically and with integrity know that they can confidently challenge those who don’t.
The Chief Constable is to provide the Board with an action plan on implementation of recommendations along with a timeline for delivery, and any resourcing issues for delivery.
OFFICER AND STAFF RECOGNITION
The Chair has commended all the officers and staff who were recently recognised for acts of bravery, acts of selflessness, acts of commitment and professionalism at an event for PSNI Justice Department.
At the Board meeting the Board Chair also recorded appreciation and recognition to the officers and staff involved in the Natalie McNally murder investigation, and those who worked to secure justice for her and her family.
The investigation was a Team PSNI effort in terms of all the workstreams required across the organisation in progressing the investigation. We offer our thanks to all the officers and staff involved in what was a complex investigation, and also to all those who provided support to Natalie’s family over the course of the last three years.
LURGAN POLICE STATION ATTACK
At the monthly meeting, the Chair condemned the reckless attempt to attack Lurgan Police Station, noting that 25 years on, there is not the normal peaceful society envisaged with the ongoing threat that policing, and its officers and staff, continues to operate under.
As a Board we welcome the widespread condemnation of those behind this incident and the support voiced for policing. The importance of that continued civic support is needed going forward as we continue our work to ensure that the PSNI is effective, efficient and representative of the community it serves. We will remain focused on investment in policing as it remains central to the safety and security of our community.
LEGACY FUNDING
The Chair has restated the Board’s call on the Secretary of State and the UK Government to provide ring-fenced funding for the PSNI to deal with Legacy Issues given the ongoing detrimental impact on current day policing of resources being diverted from the policing budget to legacy matters. This follows an update to the April Board meeting by the Chief Constable on resourcing implications on the PSNI.
The Board has previously written to the Secretary of State and received a very disappointing reply in that regard. It really is time for the Westminster Government to step up and provide the funding to the Police Service on this issue, not just in terms of the important impact that that will have in relation to the general budget for policing, but also in terms of the reputational damage that is caused to the Police Service through legacy issues particularly when we wish to increase and improve the representativeness of the Service.
At the monthly meeting a range of other questions were asked including work to reduce road deaths, anti-social behaviour in Bangor, award of PSNI Contracts, payment of PSNI Holiday Pay, misconduct proceedings, learning from murder investigation and the investigation of rape and sexual offending.
You can watch the full footage of the Board meeting in public here: 2nd April 2026 Meeting in Public
Ends