Chief Constable Jon Boutcher addressed concerns raised by Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly about PSNI applicants reportedly being rejected for political views.
Three out of 10,000 applicants to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) failed security vetting due to social media behavior, as stated by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher during a Policing Board meeting. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly raised concerns about potential bias, questioning if political views or connections to Sinn Fein could lead to rejection. Boutcher clarified that vetting focuses on values and standards, particularly targeting predatory, abusive, or concerning behavior, rather than political opinions. He emphasized the importance of thorough vetting to maintain police integrity and avoid reputational issues.
