Ending of reserve ranks criticised

The police officers’ union and the DUP have denounced a decision by the PSNI chief constable to go ahead with the scheduled abolition…

The police officers’ union and the DUP have denounced a decision by the PSNI chief constable to go ahead with the scheduled abolition of some 440 so-called Full-Time Reserve officer positions.

Matt Baggott said the scrapping of the reserve ranks, called for by the Patten commission on policing reform, would be completed by March 2011.

The DUP has linked retention of the reservists to its backing for the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter