The end goal of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is the protection of all individuals within its jurisdiction. The means by which the police force intends to achieve this end is through “professional and progressive policing.” In this regard, the Police Service of Northern Ireland pursues policing through public cooperation. With its mission firmly established, this great police force patrols Northern Ireland with a clear sense of purpose.
Formally established in 2001 as a replacement to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) inherited an area of responsibility which covers the entire Northern Ireland which is more than 5,300 square miles with a resident population of nearly 1.8 million. Its police power also extends to the adjacent waters of the United Kingdom. PSNI has force strength of about 7,500 police officers supported by 2,700 staff members. With its headquarters located at Knock in east Belfast, its authority is divided into eight District Command Units.
Apart from its personnel, the Police Service of Northern Ireland employs a variety of police equipment. Unlike other territorial police forces, PSNI issues firearms to all its officers to be carried routinely. The force is also known for its use of the Land Rover Tangi among other police cars in its vehicle inventory. It also makes use of two police helicopters for air operations.
During the recent years, PSNI has been able to show its abilities as a policing organisation. In 2010, PSNI was able to report a number of notable successes. It pointed out a drop of 15% in non-domestic violence cases with 523 fewer offences along with a decrease of 34.3% in road accident victims. An improvement of 9.8% in detection rate of sectarian crimes was also noted as well as a 13.7% decrease in non-domestic burglaries, with both figures exceeding targets. The force attributes these improvements to better policing and increased community interaction.
With the above resources and results, coupled with active public participation, PSNI is well on its way to making Northern Ireland safer for everyone. Citizens can sleep soundly each night knowing that PSNI is on patrol.
