Police to recruit 150 part-timers

The PSNI is to recruit 150 part-time officers

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is to recruit 150 part-time officers.

The new posts will be for the Foyle, Ballymoney, Moyle, Newry and Mourne and South Belfast district command areas.

Policing Board member Pauline McCabe said the new officers should have a close connection with and reflect the communities they serve in.

She said she hoped people from all sections of the community will apply - even those who may never before have considered a career in policing.

"These new posts offer an exciting and rewarding part time career opportunity for anyone interested in making their community a safer place to live," Ms McCabe said.

"The part-time officers will be people who know, understand and have a close connection with their area which will allow them to work in partnership on issues affecting local people."

In January 2003, the PSNI said it wanted to recruit 1,500 part-time officers for community policing over the next three years.

The Patten Report on policing planned a "peace-time" service of 7,500 regular officers and 2,500 part-timers.