Have a Happy New Year but Get Home Safe

As 2012 approaches no doubt many of you will be planning to head out and spend time with friends and family to see in the New Year.

As you make your plans, please think about where you will be going, who you will be with and most importantly, how you intend to get home.

New Years Eve can be one of the busiest nights of the year when thousands of people will be out and about. If you do not plan your journey home and leave arrangements to chance, it could be a very bad ending to a great night out.

When you are out please drink responsibly and don’t separate from your friends. Isolated people can be more vulnerable, especially when they have consumed alcohol and they can easily become the victim of anti-social behaviour or crime.

Your Police Service want you to be safe and enjoy the vibrant night-time economy and the fantastic range of venues for all to enjoy.

When you are out remember to:

• plan your journey home in advance


• drink responsibly


• don’t walk through areas you are unsure of


• stay in well-lit areas


• stick with your friends


• never accept a drink from someone you don’t know


• always have enough money to get yourself home.

Have a great New Year, plan early and most importantly 'Get Home Safe'.

Supporting Victims of Domestic Abuse this Christmas

Hopefully, like me, you’re looking forward to the opportunity of relaxing for a few days in the company of family and friends over the Christmas period.

Sadly however there are those for whom Christmas 2011 is a time they will want to forget.

If you've been tuning into the local news over the past few days you will no doubt have heard that the PSNI is receiving an increasing number of reports in relation to domestic abuse. Already this year we have received an 500 additional reports.

We want to encourage victims, men and women, of domestic abuse to report to police and therefore we welcome a rise in reports, although we know that many more incidents still go unreported.

Traditionally, reported domestic abuse increases over the Christmas period and I would want to reassure victims that if they take the courageous step of coming forward they will be supported, receive specialist help and advice and that where possible positive action will be taken against the perpetrator.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, please do not suffer in silence - especially at this Christmas time. The longer you leave it the worse the abuse is likely to get. We can and will help you.

If you feel you cannot report directly to us, then you can call the Domestic Abuse helpline on 0800 917 1414. Over the Christmas period our partners in the voluntary sector will like us be working round the clock to keep victims safe and supported. I pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of our partner agencies during this holiday season.

Please help us, and all those who work in this really important area, to help you have a happier Christmas.

The future of our Police Estate

I listened intently as the Justice Minster recently announced that he was undertaking a review of the Court Service Estate, with the potential for a number of Court House closures.

You will no doubt have heard or seen reports in the media over the past few weeks that we have been briefing the Policing Board on our Estate Strategy. Like the Court Service, we must rationalise our estate in order to support the delivery of efficiencies.

Over this four year Comprehensive Spending Review period, the Police Service of Northern Ireland must realise £135 million in savings. This is not about closing stations simply to save money, but to rationalise the police estate to ensure that we have fit for purpose police stations in the right locations.

This goal is further being realised with the building of two new stations in Ballymoney and Downpatrick, the planned build of the Joint Services College in Desertcreat, Cookstown, and the recent opening of the brand new 'state of the art' Musgrave station in Belfast City Centre.

We currently have 83 police premises, 34 of which are on a review list for consideration of closure. Our police estate is 70% greater than other UK police services of a comparable size.

I know from my conversations with many members of rural communities that there is something symbolic about having a police station in their town or village, but it is important to understand that many of these stations average less than one caller daily, with the majority of people increasingly contacting police by phone, through our website, or interacting with us using social media.

Policing has always been a 'people' business, delivered by police officers and staff rather than by buildings. It is therefore so important that police officers go to where people are, rather than waiting for people to come to us, often in buildings that are no longer fit for purpose or in the right places.

It is important that I reassure those of you who remain unconvinced that the closure of a police building does not in any way reduce the police presence in an area. Dedicated neighbourhood and response policing teams, equipped with Blackberry mobile technology, mean that officers no longer have to continually return to police stations to update records, and this allows them to remain on patrol in local areas for longer.

Our ultimate goal is that once officers have reported for duty and then leave the station to patrol their area of responsibility, that they remain in that patrol area for as long as possible - even availing of their meal break in a local cafe or restaurant.

We will of course be speaking to local communities and taking on board your views before we make any definite decisions, so I encourage you to engage with us in this process and make your views known.

Be safe this Christmas

Over the past few weeks I have been appalled by the number of rapes and sexual assaults which have been reported to police.

Having worked in the past in the area of rape investigation, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact that these horrendous crimes can have on men and women.

The actual number of rapes and sexual assaults are very low, however it is essential that we do everything we possibly can to keep you keep safe and give you the best possible advice to protect yourself.

Over the past few months we have been planning, a series of Police operations, designed to help keep you keep safe. Your police service will be prioritising patrols to protect people as they are out socialising across Northern Ireland.

Police will do as much as possible, but you can help us protect you, by taking the following simple safety steps:

• If you are going to drink alcohol, drink responsibly.


• Don’t become separated from your friends.


• Don’t accept a drink from someone you don't know .


• Carry a personal attack alarm - you can buy one from you local DIY store for a few pounds or speak to your local PSNI Crime Prevention officer.


• Don’t draw attention to yourself - keep valuables close to you or hidden from sight


• Plan your journey home in advance by booking a taxi or arranging a lift – make sure your taxi driver and vehicle are displaying the approved signs/identification. If in doubt do not get in


• Stay in well lit, familiar and busy areas.


• If you think you are being followed make your way to the nearest busy and well lit area and call the police on 999.


• Always make sure you have enough money to get yourself home.

Together we can ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable Christmas.

New Conversations about Policing

Today and tomorrow at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, the Chief Constable, Policing Board Chair and the University will host a 10th anniversary conference entitled 'Challenge and Change - A new conversation for Policing in Northern Ireland'.

I am very grateful to the University for hosting the conference at its Jordanstown campus but of course the University of Ulster has a long association with the PSNI having been involved in accrediting the training for PSNI student officers over the past decade. This has proven to have been a very worthwhile partnership and has considerably improved and enhanced the training delivered to new officers.

Whilst it is good to reflect on where we have come from, our intention is to deliberately not dwell on the past, but to focus on having those 'new conversations' about policing that will drive us forward into the next ten years.

Whilst there are a number of speakers including Minister of Justice, David Ford, , Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Dennis O'Connor, and Minister for Finance and Personnel, Sammy Wilson, the majority of the time will be spent engaging with delegates in parallel sessions. This is without doubt the most important part of the conference - hearing and discussing first hand from those living and working in communities and having those 'new conversations' which will help us to look forward.

Already this morning we have heard about the concerns of older people who have been or are afraid of becoming victims of crime, how young people feel demonised not just by the police but by society in general and how the Human Rights Act has shaped the policing of today.

This afternoon and tomorrow we will have the opportunity in the parallel sessions to discuss and listen on a range of important issues such as Organised Crime, Future of the Criminal Justice system, Economy and Policing, legacy, victims and early intervention.

I look forward to some interesting and challenging conversations over the next few days.

If you are interested in following the events at Jordanstown I encourage you to follow the conference on Twitter at #changeandchallenge.

A President to remember

As the Republic of Ireland prepares to inaugurate its ninth Irish President, Michael D Higgins, I wanted to pay my own personal tribute to the outgoing President, Mary McAleese.

There are very few people across Northern Ireland who could not have been touched in some way by Mrs McAleese's presidency. She knew exactly how important the role of policing was and was a true friend to both the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross and Police Service of Northern Ireland.

When I had the privilege to attend a reception hosted by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in honour of the President a few weeks ago, she was careful to specifically thank the officers of the Police Service past and present, who provided her with close protection as she conducted her various visits across the whole of Northern Ireland. She knew exactly how difficult it was to strike the balance between visible security and protection.

When officers were murdered, died in the course of duty or were injured as a result of terrorist attacks, the President was always one of the first people to call the Chief Constable to offer condolences or pass on her best wishes. When she attended the graduation of new PSNI officers in July this year, she talked about our murdered colleague Constable Ronan Kerr and referred to him as a "modern day hero" - a term that has stuck very clearly in my mind and one that the Chief Constable refers to often.

Her interest in and support for my work as lead in the PSNI Gender Action Plan was greatly appreciated by female officers and staff across PSNI. She was a champion of equality and I know that my colleagues were inspired by her when she opened our inaugural Cross Border Women in Policing Event, and later when she invited a group of female PSNI and An Garda Síochána officers and staff to her Presidential home at Aras an Uachtarain.

She had the gift of gracious hospitality and no matter who you were, she made you feel appreciated and special in your own right. I take this opportunity on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to sincerely wish the new President, Michael D Higgins every success in his new role. His predecessor's Presidency has witnessed so many historic events - some very poignant and others truly remarkable.

It is my hope that President McAleese's lasting legacy will be one of respect, harmony, equality and a truly shared future for all of the people of this island.

Ten years of PSNI: Reflecting on our past and looking to the future

As I reflect on our ten year Anniversary, it is with mixed emotions that I consider the achievements of the last decade, and the impact that the Police Service of Northern Ireland has had on the history and peace of this island.

Sadness, at the loss of colleagues' lives during that time - a sadness that echoes pain of the past that we had all hoped to put behind us. Sadness at the serious injuries inflicted by terrorists that colleagues still live with daily. And sadness at the tragic loss of colleagues through road traffic collisions whilst on duty serving the entire community.

Pride, in the dignity, professionalism and resolve with which police officers and staff have embraced and driven the seismic change that policing has experienced, and pride that it was that dignity and resolve that helped lay the foundations for political progress.

Amazement, at the scale of the change that has been achieved whilst we continue to deliver outstanding performance - crime is at its lowest for many years, detections are higher than for many years, injury road traffic collisions are at their lowest for decades, and confidence in PSNI is growing.

Respect, for those colleagues past and present who have led change in some of the most challenging policing areas in the world - in particular delivering policing with the community in the absence of routine Military support.

Frustration, that a continuing terrorist threat holds us back in some areas from delivering the style of policing that we all aspire to, and that often we cannot speak publicly about the job we do for fear of being singled out for attack by terrorists.

Confidence, in the professionalism of the people who belong to your Police Service - police and staff at all levels - who seek to serve all communities in accordance with the spirit of our PSNI Attestation: faithfully discharging our duties with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all individuals and their traditions and beliefs.

Recognition, that there is still some way to go in building full community trust, confidence and support, but acknowledgment of how far we have come in the last ten years.

Passion, that over the last ten years we have absolutely been doing the right things, we are really making a difference in people’s lives, keeping the most vulnerable safe and tackling really serious emerging crimes like Human Trafficking and e-crime.

But most of all hope, for the future, in the new context of Devolution of Policing and Justice and a more stable political foundation which we have all helped to create and on which we can all build for a brighter future.

Here’s to the next ten years and beyond – and to continuing to deliver personal, professional, protective policing, come what may.

Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of the Police Service

It's important for me to take time to visit police officers and staff based in stations and departments across the Service, to have the opportunity to speak with and perhaps more importantly, listen to them personally.

Yesterday, I had the chance to visit our Occupational Heath and Well-being department, which is responsible for the delivery of health protection, promotion and monitoring. The department also provides psychological well-being, musculoskeletal, medical and nursing and physical and health education services.

The department's main aim is to improve the health and well-being of police officers and police staff by delivering a range of proactive and responsive services. The unit began delivering occupational health services in the early 1980's with just a few members and was sadly in response to the very difficult policing environment being faced by the Royal Ulster Constabulary at that time.

Today a fantastic range of services is provided by a team of around 40 healthcare professionals and support staff. The unit is very much seen as a model of good practice nationally and internationally and I was absolutely delighted to see them recently receive first place in the Health and Wellbeing category of the CIPD People Management Awards 2011.

Policing by its very nature is a physically and mentally challenging occupation. Whilst we have some very experienced and resilient people, the officers and staff of your police service see and do things that most other people will never ever have to encounter or experience.

Some of the incidents members of the Police Service deal with or attend can have very significant and long term consequences for them personally. It is therefore absolutely critical that we have the right people with the right skills in place to identify health concerns at the earliest opportunity, to provide support and assistance to our people when they need it most.

More often than not these people are in the background and less visible to the public than many parts of this organisation. But that does not mean they are any less important.

Not only is it important that we look after our people when they need assistance, but it is equally important to ensure that, as a public service, we do everything possible to ensure that our people are fit, healthy and happy at work in order to better deliver that personal, professional and protective policing service that the public expects.

Our officers and staff deserve the very best support we can provide and I know that the Occupational Heath and Well-being department are a critical and essential part of your police service.

For an organisation in a uniquely challenging environment, they provide a world class service of which we are all very proud.

Planning for the World Police and Fire games

I was delighted to attend my first meeting as Chair of the World Police and Fire Games Board this afternoon.

I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland who until recently chaired the Board, for his immense contribution to the planning for this major event in our history.

Although the games do not come to Northern Ireland until summer 2013, significant planning and preparation has already been undertaken. The Games will undoubtedly be the biggest sporting event we have ever seen.

The events of Wednesday night again demonstrated the narrow view of a small number of individuals who for whatever reason seem intent on driving away the benefits and investment of events like the MTV Awards, Titanic Celebrations, City of Culture and the World Police and Fire Games.

I echo the words of Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin, the local District Commander in Derry, who described those who carried out the attack on the City of Culture Offices in Derry as: "not an attack on police but an attack on the people of the City by the people of the City."

I encourage you to embrace the opportunities to promote everything that is good about Northern Ireland over the next few months and years.

Your Police Service will be doing everything it possibly can to make sure that people feel as welcome and safe as possible and have a memorable visit for all the right reasons to this beautiful part of the world.

New Public Services Training College - a reality

I was delighted to attend Cookstown Council Office on Wednesday night to formally acknowledge the business case approval of the new Joint Public Services Training College.

It has been a long journey since the provision of a purpose built training college was first suggested in recommendation 131 of the Patten Report in 1999. Since then the scope has been widened to include a multi agency training facility with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Prison Service. All of the services welcome this development and the provision of world class training facilities for your emergency and prison services now seem a reality.

The opportunities of the new facilities are endless, and whilst the capital is coming from Police, Fire and Rescue and Prisons, we have already received expressions of interest from other Northern Ireland Public Service providers and international colleagues to use the college. We also hope that there will be significant opportunities and benefits for the local community.

A lot of time and energy has already been invested to get the project to this stage and I would like to pay tribute to current and former colleagues, in all three services, who had the vision and determination to develop the concept of the provision of new training services.

This is a huge training investment and the £139m project will in the longer term save public money as we share facilities, replace outdated and dilapidated buildings, and reduce the duplication of overheads for all three services.

I very much look forward to the next stages which will include planning permission and tendering for the construction of the facility. It is hoped the first of our colleagues will be using the new college in the summer of 2015.

Working in Partnership to Keep Young Drivers Safe

I was delighted to have been asked to attend the launch of a Young Passengers and Drivers Awareness initiative (YPAD), yesterday afternoon in Banbridge.

This initiative was developed with a number of agencies and partners, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Over the next six months over 1,000 young people, in years 12 to 14, will attend a seminar aimed at keeping them safer on our roads, as either drivers or passengers.

The session includes a locally produced film developed specifically for this initiative. The film which features local young people and members of the various agencies and partners shows the consequences of being distracted by text messaging whilst driving. Many of those who took part in the film were present at its launch.

One of most striking examples used yesterday, was that research has shown that taking your eyes of the road to look at a text message whilst driving at 55mph, is the equivalent of travelling the length of a football pitch with your eyes closed. And there were a number of driving simulators at the launch to 'drive'this home to the young people.

It is of course not just young people that are distracted by mobile phones and other devices in cars - the dangers apply equally to us all.

Sadly far too many people die on our roads across Northern Ireland each year. The downward trend is welcome but on average, every single week a person dies on our roads and the consequences of this for families, friends and communities stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Many collisions could be avoided if people slowed down, did not drink and drive and concentrate on the road and not the other potential distractions around them. This morning yet another family is having to come to terms withthe loss of someone dear to them.

I appeal to everyone, whether a young person just starting out on their driving experience, or as someone who has been driving for many years, to think carefully about their personal responsibility to drive safely.

By working together we will continue to reduce death and serious injury on our roads.

Safety First for 'Fresh' Beginnings

It’s ‘Freshers’ week when students, old and new, head to our universities for the start of a new academic year.

For some this will be back to the familiar routine to which they are now well used, but for others it will be the start of something very new and with it the opportunities, challenges and perhaps for some new found freedom. The Police Service have been working closely with universities long before students have arrived. Our priority is to make sure that students are kept, and know how to keep safe and that they can integrate with the local community with the least disruption and inconvenience possible.

Sadly every year a small number of students become involved in criminality and anti social behaviour. The Police Service work closely with the universities and the local community to ensure that these individuals are identified and dealt with swiftly. What to some might seem a ‘moment of fun or madness’ can jeopardise a university place, result in disciplinary action by the university and/or a criminal record and ultimately could prevent future employment. By all means students should have fun and thoroughly enjoy their university experience but they should also act responsibly and think of others.

For those students going out and about at night, I ask you to think about where you are going, who you are going with, and to try when you are out and about to stay together. Tell someone when you are expected back and keep your mobile phone with you at all times, but keep it and any bags, purses or wallets concealed out of sight.

The influx of students to residential accommodation, on and off site, is also an opportunity for others. Criminals know that student accommodation will be filled with an array of televisions, laptops, ipods and other items which can be easily concealed and sold on. Accommodation is regularly unoccupied and therefore easily accessed. If you are concerned about the security of your property speak to your landlord about locks and alarms and make sure when you go out that you secure the property, look after your keys and don’t leave items of value in clear view of the street.

University is a fantastic opportunity and I encourage you to enjoy it. Please listen carefully to the experience of others and to the advice you are given. The last thing we want is for you to have to remember university for all the wrong reasons.

By working together and following some simple advice we can keep you safe.

Click here for Personal Safety advice:- http://www.psni.police.uk/index/crime-prevention/personal/personal-safety.htm

World Police and Fire Games success

As the World Police and Fire Games have just drawn to a close in New York, I am delighted to tell you that the Police Service of Northern Ireland have picked up five gold , seven silver and four bronze medals.

Colleagues in NI Fire and Rescue picked up three gold, two silver and one bronze, whilst the NI Prison Service return with one gold, four silvers and one bronze medal.

Last Sunday evening at the closing ceremony attended by the Chief Constable, the responsibility for the next games in 2013 was handed over to Northern Ireland.

This will be a fantastic opportunity and will bring approximately 10,000 law enforcement officers and fire fighters, from across the world, to Northern Ireland for the largest sporting event ever hosted here.

The tourism, economic and legacy opportunities that the Games will bring to Belfast specifically and to Northern Ireland in general are significant.

The organisers of the 2013 World Police and Fire Games have set themselves the goal of being the friendliest games. and knowing our Belfast people I am sure that the Games will live up to that ambition.

This is of course only one of a number of very significant events over the next few years. We have already commenced planning with our partner agencies for the City of Culture 2013 in Derry/Londonderry.

There are some really exciting events planned for the City of Culture year that will bring many thousands of visitors into the North West. I am also often reminded as I travel across the M3 bridge of the Titanic commemorations planned for April 2012 as I watch the development of the Titanic Quarter and the building of the iconic landmark centrepiece which will become the Visitors' Centre.

These are fantastic opportunities for us all to show thousands of international visitors everything that is good about Northern Ireland, to the point that they will want to tell others to come here and see what we have on offer - including the world famous warmth of welcome of the Northern Ireland people.

Belfast Mela 2011

I had the pleasure of attending the Belfast Mela 2011 last Sunday afternoon.

Over 18,000 people descended on Botanic Gardens to witness first hand the vibrant and colourful spectacle which has become a regular date in the Belfast calendar.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is delighted to support and be associated with the Mela and again officers were present, meeting with members of the public, providing advice and information.

The Mela, in its fifth year, has now become Northern Ireland's largest multi-cultural festival and I was delighted to see that it was again so well supported.

As I walked around visiting the various stalls and meeting people it was fantastic to see how multi-cultural Northern Ireland has become and all the opportunities that this presents.

Sadly not everyone sees a diverse Northern Ireland as an opportunity and the symptoms of this are present with almost daily reports of racist hate crimes and incidents. A minority of individuals choose to attack people or their property simply because they perceive them to be different.

The huge contribution that people from various cultures, countries and backgrounds provide is totally lost on this minority. Not only is it important that we attend events such as the Mela to engage with the public, but it’s also important that we show our support for minority and vulnerable communities and visibly reassure them that the Police Service is there for everyone no matter what their background is.

We are your Police Service and we will continue to do everything possible to protect those who are most vulnerable, regardless of background.

I look forward to Belfast Mela 2012 and sincerely congratulate everyone who made the day such a success.

Vital police operation a concerted effort

I was delighted to hear that the Tennents Vital concerts at Ward Park in Bangor appear to have been a roaring success.

A huge operation involving Police, the event organisers, local council, Translink and other emergency and voluntary services, helped facilitate the attendance of over 60,000 people over the two evenings.

Events like these are hugely expensive to plan, run and police and it is important to reassure you that the organisers of this event and others like it, are required to part fund the policing operation.

Over the past week approximately 3,000 people have attended a series of performances on successive nights during the ongoing Belsonic 2011 festival at Custom House Square in the centre of Belfast. Police are continuing to work in partnership with organisers, local residents and businesses to facilitate those attending, albeit on a much smaller scale.

While Belsonic 2011 and the police operation supporting it continues, I want to place on record my thanks for the way in which the vast majority of people attending Ward Park conducted themselves. In particular I would like to thank the local community who worked with and supported us.

The fact that the events were so successful and virtually trouble free I hope will secure many more concerts for Ward Park and other venues like it.

Over the two evenings we had a substantial number of police officers on duty ensuring that those attending could arrive, attend and depart safely, while minimising any inconvenience to local residents and businesses.

During the police operation, over 4,000 items of alcohol were seized or surrendered and live updates on the PSNI Bangor Facebook site kept ticket holders and local residents up to date with traffic and concert information.

Some of the comments and suggestions no doubt helped keep some of you amused while you waited to be admitted.

Now that the dust has settled and Bangor is returning to normality, everyone who played a role in bringing these events to Northern Ireland and ensuring that they passed of successfully, can be very proud of their achievement and I look forward to seeing many more events like it in the future.

The Social Media Age of Technology

Facebook and other similar social media outlets, have provided everyone with a fantastic opportunity to engage, publicly or privately, with one another in real time.

Sadly this week certain individuals tried to use this forum for sinister means to publish information and images of police officers, placing them at potential risk. This is absolutely unacceptable and I would encourage anyone who identifies social media sites or posts that place anyone at risk to report this immediately. We will certainly not be deterred from providing a police service by the placing of images or abusive comments on Facebook.

The benefits of Facebook are very clear. Your Police Service has grasped this opportunity and is now running nine Facebook pages and four Twitter accounts throughout Northern Ireland. Not only does this provide us with an opportunity to provide you with information, but it also has provided excellent opportunities for individuals to advise us about what is important, what matters most to local communities, and to debate wider policing issues. I personally follow a number of the Police Service sites and I am very encouraged by the contributions which are being made and the engagement which regularly happens on these sites.

Clearly on occasions we have to step in and remove certain inappropriate content, and no doubt this is no different from other personal and business users. The responsibility for the content each person posts is their own, and recent events have shown how irresponsible comments can become the subject of criminal proceedings. That is not to say we will remove all negative comments. It is right that people have an opportunity to voice their views even if these may be critical of police actions. We can learn a lot from constructive criticism, and this is to be actively encouraged.

We hope over the next few months to make the Police Service of Northern Ireland even more accessible to social media users and I encourage those of you who already live or work in the areas where we currently have sites to follow and engage with us in this way. The feedback to date has been extremely positive and we have been greatly encouraged by the support which we have received.

But if you haven't quite caught the 'social media' bug yet, don't be concerned. This was always intended to be in addition to and not instead of the more traditional means of face to face engagement of visible, accessible and familiar police officers on patrol. And even though many thousands of people in Northern Ireland and beyond follow Facebook - and it's a great way to keep in touch - nothing beats an old fashioned face to face chat.

Féile an Phobail / Festival of the People

I have just returned from taking part in one of the Féile an Phobail or Festival of the People events, taking place across West Belfast over the next few weeks.

'Bread and Roses' was a small diverse and intimate event, attended mostly by women, to discuss the achievements of women in their struggle for equality and the barriers still to overcome.

I had the opportunity to take part in a debate and discussion alongside Martina Anderson MLA. Whilst police and politicians will often have to agree to disagree in terms of progressing equality for everyone, Martina and I clearly agree in many areas.

I really enjoy any opportunity to sit down with local people and hear first hand the issues which concern them most, particularly in relation to policing.

In events of this type you would expect that the range of people with very diverse political views would voice some very strong opinions about policing and indeed at the event there were questions about 50:50 recruitment, 'plastic bullets' and the retention of officers and staff of different religions and genders.

But actually there is more in common than that which would divide us. People raised concerns about the economy, poverty and how this links to crime and how people who have child care and carer responsibilities can be facilitated to balance the pressures of home with the need to work.

These are important conversations and whilst the Police Service, the public and private sectors have made significant progress there is absolutely no room for complacency.

Everyone has a part to play

The events of the past week have shown, yet again, how fragile cross community relations can be.

The disorder in East Belfast was totally unacceptable and I can only imagine what it must have felt like for those people who were caught up in the middle and had their homes or property damaged. No matter what sparked this violence there is absolutely no excuse for it. Once again your Police Service was thrust into a situation not of its making, caught in the middle of two groups of people intent on causing harm and damage to the other.

All too often community leaders are criticised for not stepping up to the mark but I know how much effort, night and day, was put in to trying to restore some form of normality. I applaud everyone who worked together to achieve this. But tensions will remain high over the next few weeks and I encourage everyone of influence, elected and community leaders, to continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those intent on causing trouble do not achieve their ambition.

The Police Service does not want to divert resources away from local communities to police or prevent public disorder. Nor does it wish to spend money which could be better used supporting longer term initiatives to protect local communities and deal with the things which really matter to you.

We will not shy away from our responsibilities and we will seek to police impartially, proportionately and professionally, but you must support us and do everything you possibly can to ensure that tension is reduced and that those who want to cause trouble understand very clearly that they are not welcome.

Whether you’re a parent, a partner, a community or political leader, a person of influence in the community or a local resident please do not underestimate your ability to influence the thinking and actions of others.

This is a time for cool heads and for reflecting on the impact of what we say and do. Everyone has a part to play in reducing tensions and in contributing to longer term peace building in our society - a society which has come so far and deserves so much better than the events of last week.

Policing with the Community Rewarded

I was absolutely delighted to have attended the eighth annual Policing with the Community Awards earlier today.

The awards have been developed by the Police Service in partnership with the Northern Ireland Policing Board and many of the nominations come form the community. I am also very grateful to our sponsors Deloitte, Tesco, Aramark, Fujitsu, Grafton ESP, Sodexo and the Northern Bank.

The aim is to publicly recognise and reward outstanding problem-solving while highlighting the benefits of policing in partnership with local communities. They also seek to celebrate the important contribution that police staff make towards creating a safer Northern Ireland.

This year’s recipients were:-

• Probationer of the Year - Constable Lee Tavinder, F District, Cookstown Area
• Neighbourhood Policing Team of the Year - G District, City Centre Neighbourhood Team
• Diversity in Action Award – B District, Community Safety Team for their Tension Monitoring Group
• Problem Solving in Partnership Award- Organised Crime Branch, Operation Tarros
• Police Officer of the Year – Sergeant John Hughes, Operational Support Department, Armed Response Unit
• Police Staff member of the Year Award – Sharon Anderson, E District, Newry and Mourne Area
• Police Staff Lifetime Achievement – Tina Broderick, F District, Omagh Area
• Police Lifetime Achievement – Constable Derek Friel, F District, Fermanagh Area

The officers and staff who have been rewarded are members of your police service. These are the people who day and daily go the extra mile to ensure that you receive a personal, professional and protective policing service in some of the most challenging circumstances experienced anywhere in the UK.

Some of the examples provided for consideration ranged from a probationer constable who in a very short period of time has made a real difference in the local community; and neighbourhood policing and community safety teams who have grasped issues important to the local community and made a difference.

Other examples included operations against criminality in Money Service Bureaus, resulting in 27 arrests, the recovery of laundered fuel, smuggled cigarettes and seizure of over £1million in cash and drugs valued at £1.75m; a staff member who has dedicated 34 years to supporting front line policing and one who has been instrumental in improving contact management; a Sergeant who has an outstanding record in crime prevention and detection and a Constable who has given 25 years to proactively supporting the local community in Fermanagh.

We are very fortunate to have so many great police officers and staff members and the standard of nominations is always very high, making it extremely difficult to decide on the final winner in each category. There are so many who are worthy of recognition in this way.

I am very proud of all the officers and staff in the Police Service of Northern Ireland who work tirelessly day and daily to deliver a policing service, but especially proud of those who received recognition today. I know that many of you will join with me in offering them your congratulations.

Today is an opportunity for them to celebrate their success but tomorrow each of them will be back, doing what they do best, delivering a police service in your community.

Working together for an even better Police Service

This afternoon, the Chief Constable my Chief Officer colleagues and I held our first formal meeting with the newly appointed Policing Board.

It's hard to believe that the Policing Board, like the PSNI, will shortly mark its tenth anniversary. For those of you are perhaps less familiar with the role of the Policing Board, it was originally established to secure an effective, efficient, impartial, representative and accountable police service which will secure the confidence of the whole community, by reducing crime and the fear of crime.

The Board and its work is an example of how much progress has been made over the past 10 years. A diverse group of political and independent, members from across Northern Ireland regularly sit down together with the ambition of securing the very best policing service possible for everyone, regardless of who they are.

In my experience, working with the Board has been both challenging and rewarding. As a police officer I welcome challenge. Inevitably at times we will not always agree. But despite this, I have absolutely no doubt that the Police Service and the Policing Board share a vision for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to be the finest personal, professional and protective police service in the world.

Whilst the Board plays a very important role, you also have a very important role to play. Not only can you give us your full support whilst we work to keep you and your community safe from harm, but there are also opportunities for your voice to be heard through the network of District Policing Partnership meetings, soon to become Police and Community Safety Partnership meetings.

These meetings give you the chance to engage personally with your local Senior Police Officers and tell them what is important to you. These are excellent opportunities for really constructive conversations, which we really value as a service.

We also value the many less formal opportunities to discuss policing issues with communities, groups and individuals and we are actively seeking more across Northern Ireland.

I look forward to working with the new Policing Board which is a vital component in the accountability and community confidence landscape. But I also look forward to this police service - your police service - working even more closely with you whether as a community, a local group or as an individual, to hear your views on how we can work together to make the police service you receive even better in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Division - No Quick Fix

This morning I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion at the Community Relations Council Annual Policy Conference at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast.

This was only one of many events taking place across Northern Ireland as part of Community Relations week 2011.

The theme for the week is 'Division - No Quick Fix'. Many of us have become so conditioned to division it almost feels normal. The conference reminded me just how much division affects and shapes our society.

At an estimated cost of £1 billion per year, division affects everything from health to education to public transport, to access to services and - at times - two of everything literally a few streets apart. This situation is not and should not be seen as normal.

Community relations, or rather, Community Confidence is a critical part of policing. Sadly so much of our time is spent dealing with the symptoms of division and whilst the Police Service has a significant role to play, we do not have all the answers and are part of a much bigger solution.

I welcome the publication of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate's report, today, on PSNI Contact Management. How we deal with people, who are very often contacing us at a time of personal crisis, is critical to community confidence in the Police Service and this has an impact on the wider issue of community relations. Every encounter we have with the public can have a significance way beyond the immediate incident.

I very much welcome the recognition from CJINI of the work which we have already undertaken and we look forward to updating the Inspectorate on how this work is being rolled out across the Service.

Much has been achieved and sometimes we can forget just how far we have come. Last weeks truly historic visit by Her Majesty the Queen to the Republic of Ireland is a prime example of this. We want to have the ability and space to support communities effectively. Time and money spent dealing with division distracts us from that ambition. But if we work together, I believe that much more can be achieved.

Every single one of us has a responsibility to play. For me that's not just in my role as Deputy Chief Constable, but also as a wife, mother and member of my local community. Never underestimate the circle of influence and the power in your hands to challenge and change division.

Achieving Success Together

Last Thursday we released our annual statistics detailing crime figures for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.

During the year there were 4,099 less victims of crime. We have reduced the level of crime to a 13-year low and increased our detection rate to 27.3%, up 1.5% on the previous year.

By working in partnership with many other public, private and voluntary agencies, road deaths have been reduced and 43 fewer people died on the roads. There were over 3,500 drugs seizures, more than the previous year resulting in fewer drugs on our streets for dealers to sell to our children and young people.

While there were 237 less victims of violent crime, robberies and sexual offences increased. Together with our partners, we are working hard to identify ways to reduce these incidents and I encourage everyone to follow our personal and business safety advice.

It is accepted that we work in a unique policing environment. No other UK police service faces the daily threat of terrorist attack on their officers and staff. Regrettably, at times this threat will impact upon the style and delivery of our service in some areas. I assure you that we will not allow the threat to prevent us from working with and in communities to tackle crime and deal with the issues that really matter.

Despite the reduction, there still were over 105,000 victims of crime and we recognise the huge impact left on some individuals long after events have passed. That’s why we will focus on the personal impact of crime and tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in a professional and protective manner.

We will continue to listen to communities, identify local issues of concern and work together to solve them. We will redouble our efforts to prevent people becoming victims of crime and where crimes occur, do our best to bring those responsible to justice.

The successful reduction of overall crime would not have been possible without your support. You are our partners in crime prevention and reduction. This is as much your success as it is ours.

Going forward we want to do even better. I appeal for your unconditional support in tackling crime, preventing serious harm and protecting communities as we strive to be the finest personal, professional and protective police service in the world.

Protecting Democratic Rights

Tomorrow thousands of people across Northern Ireland will go to the polls to vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Local Council elections and the referendum on the voting system.

Across Northern Ireland there will be 1400 Polling Stations and we have been working very closely for some time with the Electoral Commission to ensure that people exercise their democratic right to vote , safely and without disruption . At times,there will be a noticeable increased security presence to deter anyone from interfering with the electoral process but we will ensure, in so far as possible that this will be low key .

Once the polls close at 10pm tomorrow night we will be supporting the Commission to help ensure that ballot boxes reach the 8 counting centres safely and that the counting process is completed without hindrance or interruption.

I want to reassure you that this is a carefully planned and very significant police operation but one which we regard as absolutely critical to ensuring that everyone who chooses to do so can be facilitated to safely cast their vote. We will be working in partnership with many agencies to ensure that the day passes off as smoothly as possible.

This is a very important day for Northern Ireland, and you can support your police service by ensuring that you report anything suspicious to us as soon as possible. We will in turn ensure that we respond as quickly as possible to any request for assistance and ensure that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.

Our Commitments to you

If you have been listening to the news today, no doubt you will have heard your Chief Constable speaking about our Policing Commitments to you.

I don't intend to go into them in detail, because over the next few weeks your very own personal copy of our 10 pledges will drop through your letter box.

The most important point to highlight is that these Commitments are a result of having listened to you, your neighbours, public representatives and community leaders. These are things which you have told us matter most.

We are here to deliver a Police Service to you regardless of religion, politics, cultural identity, age, gender or sexual orientation. This is not about having a set of promises to hang on the wall in your local police station, but about standards that you can judge us upon. We will also give you the opportunity to tell us how well you think we have performed against those standards.

We have already delivered significant crime reductions, increased confidence and more police officers to visible policing roles and through our Commitments we hope to build on these achievements and deliver even more.

We know that the vast majority of people support us and want to work in partnership with us. Your support is vital to ensure that the small number of people who want us to fail and drag us back to the past do not succeed. Quite frankly they have nothing to offer society as an alternative.

The Chief Constable is absolutely determined and personally committed to delivering personal, professional and protective policing to every single person in Northern Ireland. This for me shows the commitment of our Chief Constable to raise policing here to another level and I know he is absolutely determined to see this through over the next few years. This will not be easy - it is undoubtedly very challenging and it is my privilege to support him in this regard.

I hope, in the words of your Chief Constable that: "One day all communities will simply say that the Police Service of Northern Ireland is our police."

These are our promises to you which I believe we can deliver. We are setting ourselves high standards. With your help and support, I believe we can achieve them.

Together we can make a difference

At the end of a very difficult week, on Friday afternoon I attended a joint Presidents and Duke of Edinburgh Award information event at St Mary’s High School in Limavady. Pupils from St Patrick's, Rossmar, Limavady High and Limavady Grammar were also present.

I was met by the principal, in the shadow of a rather large sign showing an image of five pupils, one from each of the five schools, running along the beach at Downhill with the cliffs and the Mussenden Temple in the background. As I looked at the sign, I thought of the week that had passed and the coming together of so many people, from different backgrounds and viewpoints, to speak with one voice of condemnation and support.

But this unity of schools in Limavady was not new, nor even recent. This was a relationship forged over time, of pupils coming together to learn with, respect and understand one another. This relationship was not born out of some government strategy, but by a genuine desire to see the future generations of Limavady grow up together in a society free from sectarianism. A shining example to us all.

Some young people present were already involved in one of the schemes whilst others were thinking about joining. As I spoke to them about my experiences of taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, I couldn’t help but remind them of the important choices which they are required to make.

I reminded them of the choice that our colleague, Constable Ronan Kerr, had made to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland and how he had wanted to be someone who helped people and who made a difference. He had taken the decision to serve his community and the people of Northern Ireland, through the very honourable and selfless profession of Policing.

The support which the Police Service has received over the past week has been powerful. The public outpouring of sympathy and condemnation and the show of solidarity at the various rallies has, I have no doubt, greatly helped the Kerr family who must be feeling such a devastating sense of loss.

Ronan’s death can and must be a turning point. Everyone must continue to speak out against those who carry out these attacks, and stress as so many have already clearly stated, that they are ‘Not in my Name’.

Terrorists have no respect for any member of our community, a point they clearly made again at the weekend, by abandoning a bomb under the main Belfast to Dublin road in Newry.

As your police service we will continue to do everything we can, not just to bring those responsible for Ronan’s death to justice, but also to prevent and detect those who indiscriminately place others at risk.

We are all the more determined to deliver a personal, professional and protective police service to everyone.

Just like those five schools in Limavady, together we can make a difference.