PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher addressed the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday about recruitment figures showing the lowest Catholic applicant percentage in more than a decade.

More than 4,000 people applied in the latest student officer campaign. Applicants broke down as 65.6% from Protestant backgrounds, 26.7% from Catholic backgrounds, and 7.7% undetermined.

Boutcher noted satisfaction with the overall response and increased intake size. He called for joint efforts to raise applications from underrepresented groups, including nationalist Catholics, working-class Protestants, and new communities.

He pointed to barriers for some Catholic applicants, such as threats from dissident republicans and perceptions of insufficient societal backing for policing.

Boutcher referenced the 1999 Patten Report, which established the PSNI and a 50:50 recruitment policy from 2001 to 2011. The report urged community leaders, politicians, councillors, clergy, teachers, and sports figures to promote police careers.

He stated society has not fulfilled this role over 25 years, with Catholic applicants remaining around 30%. Boutcher plans discussions during the Patten anniversary year and said the PSNI must act more decisively.

He indicated proper collective action could increase Catholic numbers without reviving 50:50 recruitment, while keeping all options available.

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath suggested more deliberation on reinstating 50:50. DUP MLA Trevor Clarke described the campaign as strong and urged politicians to support recruitment. Sinn Fein MLAs Deirdre Hargey and Gerry Kelly cited Troubles legacies and cultural issues as barriers, with Hargey stressing shared duties and Kelly emphasizing practical steps over rhetoric.