Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Conclusion 1
1st Report - Policing and security in Northern Ireland
Published 27 May 2026
Addressed to Northern Ireland Executive; Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Policing and security in Northern Ireland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
This year’s 25th anniversary of the creation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland provides an important opportunity to reflect on the profound changes that have taken place in policing since the Patten report, and on the pivotal role the PSNI has played—in often difficult and dangerous circumstances—in supporting Northern Ireland’s transition from the Troubles to peace and stability. It is important to acknowledge the progress made over the past 25 years by the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the PSNI in securing increased support for and confidence in policing from across the communities, although the police still have profound lessons to learn in relation to cases of violence against women and girls. It is vital also, however, to recognise that on funding, staffing and security, all three have still more to do. (Conclusion, Paragraph 11) PSNI funding
From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, 1st Report - Policing and security in Northern Ireland (HC 184), 27 May 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 3 September 2026 (deadline 27 July 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out its position on each recommendation, stating that responsibility for a number of them rests with the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Northern Ireland Executive because policing and justice are devolved.
- On the open book exercise, the government says it published the Open Book Review of the Northern Ireland Executive's Budget on 1 June 2026.
- On a ringfenced legacy funding stream, the government points to existing legacy funding and says it is for the Executive to consider how to support those organisations and mechanisms through funding allocations.
- On officer numbers and recruitment, it says these are matters for the Executive, Policing Board and PSNI, and that it "welcomes any rigorous independent analysis" to assist the Executive.
- On publishing asylum application figures for Northern Ireland, the government "notes" the recommendation and says it will form part of the Home Office's "ongoing assessment of user need".