Ms Pauline McCabe:

We need to do a detailed analysis of all the figures. I think the final appointment worked out at approximately 65:35. Sorry, it was 65:25. It would be necessary to carry out a detailed analysis of the proportion of those applying versus those appointed and so on. On the positive side, I note that I have invested significant effort in running sessions for all the new officers coming in. I go to the college and run sessions for all of them and take the opportunity to engage with them and talk about the way forward. I must state the quality of people actually being recruited and the experience and attitudes they bring have been hugely encouraging. We just need to make efforts in the future to encourage applicants who are more representative. In fairness, with the wisdom of hindsight, perhaps not enough effort was put into encouraging applicants from right across the community. In policing, I was on the board when civilian recruitment was being considered and even though we did not have a 50:50 ratio, we did a colossal amount of work to encourage under-represented groups to apply. While this is easy with hindsight, perhaps people did not recognise there may have been a greater need to do this than was appreciated and that it will be quite important in the future.