Forty-five officers have been formally attested into the Police Service of Northern Ireland at a ceremony at the Police College, Garnerville in east Belfast on Friday 14 August.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly were present. Boutcher noted this was Commissioner Kelly's first visit to a PSNI attestation.

The Chief Constable said the new constables join during the service's anniversary year marking 25 years of policing in Northern Ireland. He said policing is a profession where officers save lives and improve quality of life, with rewards that are immeasurable.

Commissioner Kelly said it was an honour to attend and thanked Boutcher for the invitation. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the new officers and said he looked forward to deepening cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI to keep all communities on the island safe.

Music was provided by members of the Pipes and Drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána bands.

Boutcher said attestation ceremonies are highlights of the policing calendar and welcome new colleagues in front of family and friends. He said the declaration made by officers underlines their commitment to serve with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

He also said the PSNI will continue to engage with all communities and encouraged anyone interested in a policing career who did not apply in the most recent campaign to talk about future opportunities. The service is determined to be more representative of the community and is seeking support from everyone in Northern Ireland to achieve that objective, he added.