The PSNI’s recent recruitment campaign saw the lowest percentage of Catholic’s apply to join the force in over a decade.
Despite the last two recruitment campaigns saturating the Six Counties with advertisements on boards, public transport, radio and television screens, the attempted normalisation of the PSNI continues to falter. 700 fewer people applied to join the PSNI compared to last years campaign. Just 27% of those who applied to join were from a Catholic background, the lowest since 2013 and a significant drop from the current 32% of the force who identify as Catholic.
In desperation, the PSNI even attempted to increase their presence in schools and youth clubs, moves which Lasair Dhearg and other Republican groups successfully prevented after making last-minute interventions.
No amount of normalisation of the PSNI will change the fact that, for example, you are twice as likely to be arrested if you are “Catholic” than someone who is from a Protestant background. As time goes on, people are beginning to wake up to the reality of the dangers the PSNI poses to communities, and Lasair Dhearg and other Republicans will continue our efforts in opposing these occupying British forces in Ireland.
The only alternative is the complete disbandment of the PSNI and its replacement with a service not controlled by Stormont, Westminster or state security agencies – this can only happen in a Socialist Republic.
