One in five police officers in Northern Ireland are now Catholic, it emerged today.
Alex Attwood: Figures represent a watershed
Catholics account for 20.05 per cent of regular officers in the force, compared to just 8.3 per cent when the Patten investigation into the old RUC was carried out in 1998.
Even though the SDLP's Alex Attwood described it as a landmark in attempts to overhaul the service, he warned against any move to now end the 50:50 recruitment policy.
"It's a watershed that they have broken through the 20 per cent barrier," the Policing Board representative said. "The figures remain very encouraging and very strong.
"But the continued success of overall recruitment and Catholic recruitment must not mean that the Government changes its position on the retention of 50:50. It's up for renewal next spring, but Patten said it should continue for at least 10 years.
"You cannot play fast and loose with policing," he said.
There have now been more than 65,000 applications to join the PSNI. In the latest campaign, nearly 7,700 applicants competed for 220 places; out of these, 37 per cent were Catholics, again the highest rate to date.
Paul Goggins, the Northern Ireland Security Minister, said: "I am delighted that so many people from all communities and backgrounds have taken up the challenge of delivering what is an absolutely vital service to the community."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern welcomed the latest statistics, saying they represent an "important milestone".
"This is helping to fulfil the objective of a fully representative police service in Northern Ireland. I also believe that the 50/50 provision should be continued as intended for at least ten years in order to achieve what Patten termed 'a critical mass' of one-third of the new Police Service made up of Catholics/Nationalists."