Human rights campaigners have given the new plan a cautious welcome, warning that its success “won’t be measured by words on paper, but by whether communities see real change in how they are policed and protected”.

The new plan has been developed and informed following public consultation in 2024, where the voice of community representatives, advocacy organisations, and policing partners shared what they expected from policing. 

Through the plan, the PSNI says it is making five commitments:

1. “We are committed to being an anti-racist police service”;
2. “We are committed to people from an ethnic minority background feeling safe, valued by and engaged in policing”;
3. “We are committed to officers and staff from an ethnic minority background feeling safe, valued and are treated fairly and equally in the workplace”;
4. “We are committed to being a police service that respects and is trusted by people from ethnic minority communities”; and
5. “We are a police service committed to excellence in diversity, equality, representation and inclusivity.”

The plan will be delivered through a number of work-streams, led by senior officers and staff: internal culture and inclusivity; community engagement and relations; professionalism, powers and policy; protection, partnership and justice; and performance and accountability. 

The PSNI’s chief constable, Jon Boutcher, said: “This plan represents our ongoing commitment to our ethnic minority communities ensuring that everyone in Northern Ireland feels safe, supported and respected.

“We recognise the importance of listening to all communities and working together to build a policing service that truly reflects the diversity of the society we serve.

“Recent events have demonstrated the need for decisive action and clear leadership to stamp out racism which clearly exists in communities in Northern Ireland.

“We are confident this action plan will drive the work of the Police Service and help us to work more effectively with ethnic minority communities and partners.

“The race and ethnicity action plan aligns with PSNI’s broader equality, diversity and inclusivity and our work through our ‘policing with the community’ vision, ensuring that tangible actions to address race and ethnicity are embedded across all areas of policing.

“PSNI is committed to regular updates on the progress of the plan and to continuing open dialogue with ethnic minority communities to ensure it meets their needs.”

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, said: “For too long, the PSNI has over-policed and under-protected minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland.

“Race hate crime is at a record high, yet many victims still feel unable to report attacks — a stark reflection of mistrust in policing.

“From the heavy-handed response to Black Lives Matter protests to repeated failures to respond effectively to racist violence, the PSNI has eroded the confidence of many minoritised communities.

“The publication of this five-year plan is, therefore, a welcome and necessary step — a public commitment by the PSNI to becoming an anti-racist police force.

“Amnesty International will work alongside local communities to monitor progress and hold the police to account.

“In the end, the success of this plan won’t be measured by words on paper, but by whether communities see real change in how they are policed and protected.”