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.