Gun and bomb attacks soar

Crime detection rates have fallen to 20%

There has been a significant increase in the number of gun and bomb attacks in Northern Ireland, the first Policing Board annual report has revealed.

The report, published on Wednesday, also shows crime detection rates have fallen to their lowest in four years.

The number of shooting incidents during the last year trebled with an 80% increase in bombing incidents.

While pipe bombings were largely responsible for the upsurge, petrol bomb attacks were not included in the figures.

Desmond Rea: Confidence is growing

Meanwhile, the rate for crime detection fell to just 20%.

Policing Board Chairman Professor Desmond Rea said the force had a difficult year to contend with.

"Positive developments such as the creation of a new policing emblem and the graduation of the first PSNI recruits have been somewhat marred by the ongoing terrorist threat, and the continued sectarian clashes in north Belfast," he said.

"Police performance, too, has seen its ups and downs. Detection rates were low, there were fewer arrests for drug offences and more officers were absent due to sickness."

Civilian recruits

"The good news is that public confidence in the police service is growing and we want to see that continue," he added.

He said it was a time to look forward with the recent appointment of the new Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, and the launch of the District Policing Partnerships (DPPs).

Irwin Montgomery, chairman of the Police Federation representing rank and file officers, blamed the sectarian rioting and the terrorist threat for the failure to meet targets.

He said: "The amount of time which has been absorbed in combating street disorder and heightened security obviously reduces resources available to deal with ordinary crime.

"The community has to ask itself where it's priorities lie."

It is an integral part of the organisation's programme of change, as recommended in the Patten report on policing

Joe Stewart
PSNI Director of human resources

Meanwhile, up to 1,000 civilians are to be recruited to administrative posts in the service to free up desk bound officers.

The plans to advertise administrative support, information technology and public relations posts over the next 12 months were confirmed by a senior police chief.

Joe Stewart, the Police Service of Northern Ireland's director of human resources, described the campaign as a vital step forward under the blueprint for reforming the force.

The campaign is part of the service's efforts to place more detectives on the streets to fight a rise in crime and the growing threat of paramilitary violence.

"It is an integral part of the organisation's programme of change, as recommended in the Patten report on policing," said Mr Stewart.

Selection and appointment for the non-police positions will be handled by a recruitment company operating throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The assessment of police performance was set out against nine objectives outlined by the Northern Ireland secretary and the former Police Authority, which used to oversee the former Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The Policing Board came into being in November when the Royal Ulster Constabulary became the new Police Service of Northern Ireland as part of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.