How does the Chief Constable ensure that PSNI as a service can and will address the identified difficulties in recruiting the additional professional and technical skills which are critical to undertake and deliver on the PSNI Estates Vision and Transformation?
There is no doubt that the successive cuts in recent years, to both resource and capital funding, has had a detrimental impact on the PSNI Estate.
Since the inception of the PSNI, significant progress has been made in rationalising the estate (with the disposal of 75 stations) and softening the appearance of remaining stations. However, it is important to acknowledge that the PSNI inherited an estate infrastructure that had been starved of investment, with any capital funding throughout the ‘Troubles’ prioritised towards security requirements rather than the replenishment of building stock.
We currently operate out of 49 police stations, two Headquarter sites, 83 communication sites, five training sites, six support sites and five portal units. Approximately half of the estate is over 50 years old, with eight stations built prior to 1920. In addition, 31 stations were constructed between 1976 and 1999, with significant elements incorporating hardened structures.
Despite these challenges, PSNI has an ambitious Estates Strategy based around a number of key themes including:
- Progression of asset management;
- Priority based maintenance;
- Capital development; &
- Further rationalisation.
To deliver this strategy requires investment in both skills and capital work programmes. In recognition of this, the Priority Based Resourcing (PBR) initiative identified the Estates Services Branch as a priority for investment of resources. The identified strategic benefits are to minimise future estate costs by a mixture of further rationalisation and space management to make better use of existing building stock.
A competitive market has contributed to a delay in delivering the desired increase in skilled resources to supplement the existing multidisciplinary team within Estates Services Branch. However, plans are now well progressed to initiate recruitment.
Our focus now needs to turn to making a compelling case to secure the required additional funding to enable the delivery of the vision and underlying work programme. This is an area where PSNI would welcome the active support of the Policing Board.