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Audit Office finds one in five RUC officers rehired by PSNI One in five RUC officers rehired by PSNI, says report
(about 2 hours later)
More than 1,000 former RUC officers were later rehired on temporary contracts by the PSNI, an Audit Office report has revealed. More than 1,000 former RUC officers who took redundancy were later rehired on temporary contracts by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
That is almost 20% of those who retired with redundancy packages under the Patten policing reforms. The officers had retired under the most generous redundancy scheme in the world. It was part of the Patten reforms of policing.
The report also revealed that in 2004, a £44m contract to employ temporary staff was awarded to a local company with no competitive tendering process. The Audit Office said that almost 20% of those officers had returned.
The spending watchdog said the process was "out of control" at one point. The spending watchdog said that, at one point, the process was "out of control".
The report said the practice reached its height in 2007 when more than 800 agency staff were employed, the majority of them former police officers. About 5,500 RUC officers were paid off under the Patten redundancy scheme; 1,071 of them were later rehired as temporary agency staff, the Audit Office revealed.
Under the Patten policing reforms, the RUC was replaced in 2001 by the PSNI as part of measures to attract more Catholic recruits and make the police more representative of Northern Ireland's population.
Catholics now make up about 30% of PSNI officers.
The report said the practice of rehiring reached its height in 2007 when more than 800 agency staff were employed, the majority of them former police officers.
About 5,500 officers took advantage of what was the most generous redundancy scheme anywhere in the world. The total cost was around £500m.About 5,500 officers took advantage of what was the most generous redundancy scheme anywhere in the world. The total cost was around £500m.
The report reveals that 256 retired officers were rehired with three months of leaving. Of those, 127 were rehired within a month, 54 within a week, and 21 were back within a day.The report reveals that 256 retired officers were rehired with three months of leaving. Of those, 127 were rehired within a month, 54 within a week, and 21 were back within a day.
Two were even employed as agency staff before they had officially left the PSNI.Two were even employed as agency staff before they had officially left the PSNI.
The report reveals details of what has happened in terms of the recruitment of former police officers as temporary agency staff, but many questions remain.The report reveals details of what has happened in terms of the recruitment of former police officers as temporary agency staff, but many questions remain.
It said the way the PSNI has recruited temporary staff had not always met with the high standards of governance and accountability expected of public bodies. It said the way the PSNI had recruited temporary staff had not always met with the high standards of governance and accountability expected of public bodies.
It also revealed that 64 agency staff are paid through limited companies, which can be a means of reducing the amount they pay in tax.It also revealed that 64 agency staff are paid through limited companies, which can be a means of reducing the amount they pay in tax.
About 5,500 RUC officers were paid off under the Patten redundancy scheme; 1,071 of them were later rehired as temporary agency staff, the Audit Office revealed. The report also revealed that in 2004, a £44m contract to employ temporary staff was awarded to a local company with no competitive tendering process.
Under the Patten policing reforms, the RUC was replaced in 2001 by the PSNI as part of measures to attract more Catholic recruits and make the police more representative of Northern Ireland's population. Catholics now make up about 30% of PSNI officers. Sinn Fein's policing spokesman Gerry Kelly said it was "clearly an old boys' club".
In response to the report, a PSNI spokesman said: "Importantly, in addition to highlighting some areas for improvement, the report recognises the clear business need for the PSNI to use temporary staff in an uncertain financial climate, the value for money provided and also the necessity for some of those workers to require previous policing experience. "This is D-Day for the chief constable.
"I certainly hope he is not going to come out and try to defend this, especially when these facts are uncontested. What we need to know is what is going to be done to rectify what I would describe as corrupt practices."
SDLP policing spokesman Conall McDevitt said the practice had "undermined public confidence, especially in the nationalist community".
Terry Spence, chairman of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file officers, said: "There was a collective determination by government and political parties to portray Northern Ireland as being entirely at peace.
"The consequences of this over-eagerness was an under-resourced police service with no choice but to rehire experienced officers."
A PSNI spokesman said: "Importantly, in addition to highlighting some areas for improvement, the report recognises the clear business need for the PSNI to use temporary staff in an uncertain financial climate, the value for money provided and also the necessity for some of those workers to require previous policing experience.
"The report highlights the strength of the arrangements we have in place to manage the use of temporary workers."The report highlights the strength of the arrangements we have in place to manage the use of temporary workers.
"The appropriate place to discuss the detail of the report is with the Policing Board and the Public Accounts Committee and we look forward to having that opportunity in the coming days.""The appropriate place to discuss the detail of the report is with the Policing Board and the Public Accounts Committee and we look forward to having that opportunity in the coming days."
Sinn Fein's policing spokesman Gerry Kelly said: "Some within the PSNI have been in denial about the implications of retiring and rehiring for the subversion of Patten and public confidence in policing - this needs to end."
SDLP policing spokesman Conall McDevitt said the practice had "undermined public confidence, especially in the nationalist community".