There are now 6,300 officers, but Chief Constable Jon Boutcher wants 7,000. According to Mr. Boutcher, Stormont would need to provide an additional £200 million in finance for the idea, which would require executive approval.

This is the first hiring campaign since 2021. As the PSNI battled with shrinking resources and growing expenses, a hiring freeze was one of the cost-cutting measures implemented.


From the first day of training, new officers will be offered a salary of £34,000. This contains an allowance of £4,000, which is referred to as "danger money."

Officers at the PSNI have been complaining about stress and workload in large numbers in recent years. As envisioned by policing changes in the late 1990s, a service of 7,500 officers received political support in 2020 with the 'New Decade New Approach' accord.