The Catholic Police Officer Guild of Northern Ireland has said it is “deeply concerned” after a former PSNI officer went public about the challenges he faced as a young catholic officer serving in the police force.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, the officer, since retired from the PSNI on medical grounds, said he had faced two decades of dissident threats, trauma, and sectarianism from his colleagues.
The body which represents Catholic officers serving in the PSNI said it was vital to the future of policing that all officers serve in “an inclusive environment”.
The officer, who has not been named, said he now regrets joining the police, and told of how he now feels abandoned after years spent on the front line in riots and at the scenes of some of the worst attacks of the last two decades.
He added that he was “naive” when joining in the new policing force in 2002 with no idea what was to lie ahead.
“If I were talking to the new recruit, I would have to say, think long and hard about it; long and hard — especially if you’re a Roman Catholic officer, because there’s so much baggage,” he said.
PSNI officers
Last December he retired from the PSNI on medical grounds, aged just 45.
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The Guild said: “We are deeply concerned by his reports of internal sectarianism and the challenges faced by him as a Catholic in the PSNI.
“Such issues undermine the principles of equality and respect that are foundational to effective policing and community trust.
“The Guild stands in solidarity with all officers and staff who have faced discrimination and emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive environment within the PSNI.”
We and the public expect and demand a workplace culture within PSNI where everyone is treated with respect and dignity
Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said that what he’d been told “is disgraceful and has no place whatsoever in the Police Service of Northern Ireland”.
He added that while he doesn’t believe these incidents are “a true reflection of the service’s overall culture, I’m not naive and recognise and accept that there have been incidents where the biases and prejudice that exist within our society have manifest in our workplace.
“We and the public expect and demand a workplace culture within PSNI where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. We are rightly held to a higher standard than other members of the public.
“As a service, we do not and will not tolerate this kind of alleged wrongdoing by our officers or staff,” he continued.
“This retired officer’s experience reinforces that we need to do more to give officers and staff the confidence and courage to report wrongdoing in the workplace.
“We accept that and are actively working to do so. Where we do receive information or complaints around wrongdoing, they are robustly investigated and if proven officers can face penalties up to and including dismissal.”
The Catholic Police Officer Guild said it was “encouraged” by the response from the Deputy Chief Constable.
“We will support this in whatever way we can. The Guild seeks to ensure that all officers and staff, regardless of their background, can serve with dignity and without prejudice,” the body added.
“We remain committed to supporting our members and advocating for a policing culture that reflects the diverse community it serves.”