Presenting his first report since taking up leadership of the service last September, Mr Hugh Orde revealed that fewer than one in five of notified crimes had been solved. Of 142,496 offences reported, 32,806 cases were cleared up - a rate of just 23 per cent.
Mr Orde has cited a shortage of resources in general and a lack of experienced detectives in particular. The PSNI will trawl British forces and the Garda to attract them to Northern Ireland.
Mr Orde's intention to overhaul the PSNI and possibly amalgamate the Special Branch and Criminal Investigation sections could have major operational and political effects. Mr Chris Patten, whose recommendations led to the establishment of the PSNI, reported that Special Branch had become a force within a force and operated under its own rules.
On the crime-solving rate, Mr Orde said: "The demands of crime remain high and this, coupled with road policing, community safety, public disorder and the ever-present menace of terrorist activity, places a great strain on our officers."