Long welcomes new police applicant figures and says unfair quotas must be scrapped

Alliance Deputy Leader, Naomi Long MLA has welcomed figures showing that the number of people applying to join the police from ethnic minority backgrounds is increasing. She said that these figures also show how ridiculous the 50:50 quota system is and why it needs to be scrapped immediately.

The East Belfast Assembly Member said: “Its time this discriminatory quota was scrapped. We might have Catholics from Poland counted in the non-catholic quota as ethnic minorities. This shows how ridiculous the quota system is.

“We need people from all backgrounds to ensure that police properly represents the diversity of our society. I strongly welcome all these new applicants to the Police.

“I am glad that people from every background are interested in pursuing a career with the Police. The recruitment system must be changed to ensure that discrimination can be totally eradicated.”

ENDS