Debating Policing and Justice

It was my pleasure to visit the Presbyterian General Assembly earlier this week, at the invitation of the Moderator, to take part in a panel debate on Policing and Justice along with the Minister of Justice, David Ford, acting Chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Brian Rea, and the Director of Probation Brian McCaughey.

This was a fantastic opportunity to engage with around 300 people, of all ages, from across Northern Ireland on important issues such as dealing with anti social behaviour, resourcing the policing service, improvements to the criminal justice system and the priority of policing in relation to other important services like health and education.

During the course of the evening the audience asked the panel a broad range of very challenging questions and expressed their views of what they expected and required from their Police Service and the other agencies and departments represented.

The one thing that was clear is that there was very strong support for the rule of law and for a Police Service which listens and is responsive to the needs of the community.

Our intention is very clear. We want to be a Police Service which is personal, impartial, focused, visible and in the heart of, and working with, the community to make a difference and to prevent harm, protect from danger and to inspire confidence.

We know that we will be judged not on what we say but on what we do, but to get it right we need the full and unequivocal support from individuals across Northern Ireland, and where we get this support I have no doubt that we can deliver the service you quite rightly expect and require.