The Northern Ireland Policing Board and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have published the Policing Plan 2025-2030, which provides a framework for delivery of the policing service over the next 5 years and the assessment of performance.
The Plan includes three strategic outcomes for policing. That:
- PSNI is victim focused;
- We have safe and engaged communities with confidence in policing; and
- PSNI has a representative, valued and enabled workforce.
The Plan was agreed following public consultation and is published alongside the first Annual Performance Plan, a one-year document which supports the evaluation of the delivery of the Policing Plan using set indicators, measures and impacts.
Speaking about the Plan, Board Chair Mukesh Sharma MBE DL said:
“This 5 year Policing Plan focuses attention on the future, and how we want policing and policing oversight to meet the needs of the people of Northern Ireland going forward. We strongly believe that working to these outcomes will enable PSNI to deliver effective policing that is visible, accessible, responsive, victim focused and continually improving.
This Plan focuses on the positive changes we can make to enable PSNI to deliver the service that the public expect and deserve. The Policing Plan is an important part of delivering safer communities, but it is not the only part. We must also continue to work in partnership across all levels of society.
Northern Ireland remains a safe place to live, but day to day demands for service are increasing, through more complex crime investigations, through the prevalence of crime carried out online, as well as dealing with increased levels of vulnerability in the community.
This Plan does not exist in a vacuum and we cannot achieve these ambitions on hope and hard work alone. We welcome the commitments given in the Programme for Government for Safer Communities and to increasing officer and staff numbers. Investment in the police service and indeed the wider criminal justice system, will be critical to meeting the ambitions of this Plan over the course of the next 5 years.”
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “I am delighted to present this 2025-2030 Policing Plan. This plan is the product of significant work with the Policing Board and sets out what we, as your Police Service and Policing Board, want to achieve in the next five years.
“This plan sets our strategic direction and how we are going to deliver a Police Service which is Victim focused, Community focused and Workforce focused. These three straightforward strategic priorities have been advocated by me since my first day as Chief Constable.
“The challenges of policing Northern Ireland are significant. With a growing population and increasingly sophisticated criminal threat, demand for limited police resource continues to grow. Nevertheless, I am reassured that we have the very best people to meet this challenge head on and provide an impartial and compassionate service to all of our communities. I look forward to working with the Policing Board, our partners and the public in delivering the outcomes in this Policing Plan.
“The PSNI is a hugely respected Police Service in the United Kingdom, on the island of Ireland and across the globe. Our human rights approach to policing is envied across the profession of policing, this policing plan will further enhance that reputation and each member of this organisation is already making a positive difference in contributing to this plan. We are proud to serve the wonderful and varied communities of Northern Ireland.”
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Notes to editors
- The Policing Plan 2025-2030 is produced and published in accordance with Sections 24, 25 and 26 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. The Plan contains 3 key strategic outcomes and 16 Indicators
- The Policing Plan 2025-2030 and Annual Performance Plan 2025/26 can be read on the Board’s website here: https://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/publication/policing-plan-2025-2030-and-annual-assessment-202526
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