Recruitment into the new Police Service of Northern Ireland is two thirds higher than planned because of the on-going level of violence, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid revealed today.
The Patten Report had recommended that the full-time police force should be reduced from 11,500 to 7,500 over 10 years if the security situation did not deteriorate and the peace process collapse.
Large numbers of officers have taken pay-offs and early retirement under a scheme to reduce numbers and already the establishment of the force is below that envisaged by Patten.
A PSNI spokesman said the current level was 7,103 together with 2,218 members of the fulltime reserve and 1,022 members of the part-time reserve.
But due to the level of violence, especially in north Belfast, the police service has been under growing pressure with up to 1,000 officers on sick leave at any one time.
Dr Reid said the British government would endeavour to provide the finances required and to put an end to the violence.
"We are now recruiting at a level which is 66 per cent above that envisaged by Patten precisely in order to ensure we have the personnel required."
Commenting on the high level of sick leave, he said everybody recognised the commitment and dedication of the police and the "terrible, terrible conditions" in which the service operated.
Speaking after a visit to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Belfast, he said the level of injuries was perhaps not surprising and between a quarter and one third of those on sick leave were suffering injuries suffered in riots.
SDLP policing spokesman Mr Alex Attwood MLA said the news that recruitment was higher than planned would mean more Catholics joining the force more quickly.
Recruitment to the PSNI is on a 50/50 Catholic/Protestant basis to redress the under-representation of Catholics.
Mr Attwood said: "Increasing the number of recruits is welcome both to provide more police on the ground and to create a representative police service more quickly than originally planned."
PA