CAIN logo
CAIN Web Service

Background Information on Northern Ireland Society
- Security and Defence



[CAIN_Home]
[Key_Events] [Key_Issues] [CONFLICT_BACKGROUND]
NI SOCIETY: [Agriculture] [Art_&_Literature] [Culture] [Economy] [Education] [Employment] [Geography] [Health_&_Social_Security] [History] [Housing] [Income] [Law_&_Order] [Maps] [Media] [Politics] [Population] [Religion] [Security] [Tourism] [Transportation]

Page Compiled: Martin Melaugh, Brendan Lynn (and F. McKenna; 1996-2000)
Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change

Security and Defence

This section provides some brief background information on the security situation in Northern Ireland, mainly during the period of the conflict. This section only covers information about crime or violence in relation to the political conflict.

Summary

  • The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) came into being on 4 November 2001 with a change to the name of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
  • The former police force in Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), was established on 1 June 1922. Up until March 1970 the size of the RUC never exceeded 3,500 members, but this was reassessed in the light of 'the Troubles', and membership of the RUC stood at 8,489 when it was replaced by the PSNI. Its total expenditure for the 1994-1995 financial year was £601.1 million. For the financial year 2001/02 a sum of £658.8 million was allocated for police services in Northern Ireland.
  • The RUC had always been composed mainly from members of the Protestant community. In 1992, only 7.78 per cent of the full-time force were Catholic, and an even smaller percentage than this could be found in the reserve forces.
  • In May 1996, the Government published a White Paper containing specific proposals for reform of policing structures, aimed at making the force more fair, impartial and accountable. Chris Patten produced a report containing recommendations for the police service in Northern Ireland. The report was published in September 1999 and an Updated Implementation Plan 2001 was published on 17 August 2001. The report called for sweeping changes to the RUC's name, badge, structure, ethos, and recruitment procedures.
  • The Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) came into existence in Northern Ireland on 1 April 1970, as a direct consequence of the proposals of the Hunt Report. In effect, the force was a replacement for the all-Protestant Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) or 'B Specials', and their role was to provide support for the regular police force. Initially, the UDR had up to 18 per cent Catholic membership, but by 1991, this figure had fallen dramatically to only 3 per cent.
  • The Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) was formed on 1 July 1992 as a result of the merger of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. The new regiment is made up of one General Service battalion, liable to serve worldwide, and six Home Service battalions which only serve in Northern Ireland. The total strength of the home-based battalions remains broadly the same as the former strength of the UDR and continues to include both part-time and full-time soldiers. At the end of 1994 it employed some 5,500 individuals, with 3,000 being full-time and 2,500 part time soldiers.
  • In 1969 the British Army was deployed on the streets of Northern Ireland. It was welcomed at first by the Catholic community, but this attitude was short-lived. The number of British soldiers present in Northern Ireland fluctuated, in response to the security situation. The figures peaked in 1972, when it reached over 30,000. By 1994, this figure stood at 18,500. Subsequent to the IRA ceasefire of 1994, this figure was reduced to 17,000. As of the end of 2001 this figure had fallen further to around 13,000. Following the ending of Operation Banner (August 1969 to July 2007) troop levels were reduced to 5,000.

    Sources:

    The following tables provide details of the security situation in Northern Ireland. The information is mainly based on published official statistics. At the bottom of each table is a full list of sources but the main sources for this section were:
    Police Constable's Annual Report;
    PSNI Statistics Branch website: http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm ;
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics;
    Irish Almanac and Yearbook of Facts; and
    "A Partnership for Change", A Report on Further Consultation by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

    List of Tables

    Table NI-SEC-01: Strength (number) of the RUC / PSNI, and the UDR / RIR, 1938, 1971 to 2010-11
    Table NI-SEC-02: Strength of Police Service (actual number FTE), 1 October 2018, and Establishment and Actual Strength (number) of PSNI, as at 19 June 2003
        Old Table: The ranks of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), 2001 and 1995
    Table NI-SEC-16: Percentage of PSNI police officers perceived to be Catholic (before, during, and after the Patten 50:50 recruitment policy), 1990 - 2019 (discontinuous)
    Table NI-SEC-03: British Army personnel (number) in Northern Ireland, 1969 to 2004 (incomplete)
    Table NI-SEC-04: Persons killed (number) due to the security situation in Northern Ireland (only), 1969-2002
    Table NI-SEC-05: Persons injured (number) due to the security situation in Northern Ireland (only), 1969 to 2003
    Table NI-SEC-06: Security related incidents (number) in Northern Ireland (only), shootings, bombings, and incendiaries, 1969 to 2003
    Table NI-SEC-07: Firearms, and explosive finds in Northern Ireland (only), 1969-2003
    Table NI-SEC-08: Armed robberies, 1969 to 2001-02
    Table NI-SEC-09: Number of people charged with terrorist and other serious offences (numbers), 1969-2003
    Table NI-SEC-10: Number of persons charged with terrorist and serious public order offences by paramilitary grouping, 2000-2003
    Table NI-SEC-11: Casualties (numbers) as a result of paramilitary 'punishment' attacks in Northern Ireland, 1973-2009 (Calendar Year), and 2010/11-2017/18 (Financial Year)
    Table NI-SEC-12: Parade statistics (numbers), 2002 and 2001
    Table NI-SEC-13: Outcomes of complaints (numbers) against the police, during 2002-03
        Old Table: Outcomes of Complaints against the Police Completed during 2001/02
        Old Table: Public Attitudes to Policing: Results of a survey taken September 1996
        Old Table: Public Attitudes on the performance of Local Police, 1994 and 1996
    Table NI-SEC-14: Deaths from the conflict in Northern Ireland (1969-2001), and total population (2001), at Ward level, ranked from highest Deaths.
    Table NI-SEC-15: Death Rate (and Deaths) from the conflict in Northern Ireland (1969-2001), and total population (2001), at Ward level, ranked from highest Death Rate.

    The following are links to other pages of interest on the CAIN server:
    Statistics on deaths from the conflict
    A chronological list of major violent incidents in Northern Ireland, from 1971-1994
    A list of significant violent incidents during 'the Troubles'


    The Tables

    Table NI-SEC-01:  Strength (number) of the RUC / PSNI, and the UDR / RIR, 1938, 1971 to 2010-11
    Year RUC / PSNI Total 1 RUC / PSNI Males RUC / PSNI Females RUC / PSNI Reserve Total RUC / PSNI Reserve Full-Time RUC / PSNI Reserve Part-Time UDR / RIR Total UDR / RIR Full-Time UDR / RIR Part-Time
    1938 2820 2820 - - - - - - -
    1971 4086 3942 144 1284 - 1284 323 323 -
    1972 4257 4078 179 2134 153 1981 844 844 -
    1973 4391 4172 219 2514 290 2224 7894 817 7077
    1974 4565 4283 282 3860 510 3350 7702 1290 6412
    1975 4902 4549 353 4819 661 4158 7765 1531 6234
    1976 5253 4811 442 4697 870 3827 7668 1630 6038
    1977 5692 5140 552 4686 1002 3684 7843 2035 5808
    1978 6110 5495 615 4608 1188 3420 7744 2407 5337
    1979 6614 5938 676 4513 1304 3209 7414 2530 4884
    1980 6935 6224 711 4752 1685 3067 7259 2412 4847
    1981 7334 6622 712 4870 2060 2810 7294 2745 4549
    1982 7718 7017 701 4840 2174 2666 7111 2793 4318
    1983 8003 7328 675 4493 2295 2198 6925 2690 4235
    1984 8127 7487 640 4439 2532 1907 6468 2689 3779
    1985 8259 7610 649 4508 2755 1753 6494 2755 3739
    1986 8234 7581 653 4414 2754 1660 6408 2672 3736
    1987 8236 7591 645 4650 2991 1659 6531 2785 3746
    1988 8227 7568 659 4649 2993 1656 6393 2858 3535
    1989 8259 7571 688 4623 3018 1605 6230 2947 3283
    1990 8243 7535 708 4544 2990 1554 6043 2955 3088
    1991 8222 7514 708 4560 3042 1518 6276 3277 2999
    1992 8478 7687 791 4593 3160 1433 5417 2797 2620
    1993 8464 7646 818 4572 3184 1388 5412 2902 2510
    1994 8493 7640 853 4690 3199 1491 5241 2956 2285
    1995 8440 7541 899 4419 2938 1481 n/a n/a n/a
    1996 8428 7531 897 4402 2929 1473 n/a n/a n/a
    1997 8485 7562 923 4306 2982 1324 n/a n/a n/a
    1997-98 2 8505 7580 925 4274 2975 1299 n/a n/a n/a
    1998-99 8496 7534 962 4079 2862 1217 n/a n/a n/a
    1999-00 8393 7406 987 3840 2688 1152 n/a n/a n/a
    2000-01 7894 6916 978 3365 2293 1072 n/a n/a n/a
    2001-02 6976 6058 918 3185 2184 1001 n/a n/a n/a
    2002-03 3 6940 5908 1032 2733 1804 929 n/a n/a n/a
    2003-04 7212 6027 1185 2436 1572 864 n/a n/a n/a
    2004-05 7233 5940 1293 2309 1366 943 n/a n/a n/a
    2005-06 7299 5875 1424 1841 1015 826 n/a n/a n/a
    2006-07 7314 5789 1525 1634 751 883 n/a n/a n/a
    2007-08 4 7267 5674 1593 1501 664 837
    2008-09 7203 5539 1664 1275 515 760
    2009-10 7183 5411 1772 1085 382 703
    2010-11 7020 5210 1810 880 229 651
    Notes:
    1. The Royal Ulster Constabulary became the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 4 November 2001
    2. From 1 April 1998 the RUC compiled and published its statistics on a financial year basis (31 March)
    3. From 2002-03 figures exclude those on secondments and those student officers who have yet to graduate
    4. The British Army's 'Operation Banner' ended in July 2007 when troops returned to barracks
    PSNI - Police Service of Northern Ireland
    RUC - Royal Ulster Constabulary
    UDR - Ulster Defence Regiment (A regiment of the British Army recruited in Northern Ireland. Formed on 1 April 1970. Mergered with Royal Irish Rangers in July 1992.)
    RIR - Royal Irish Regiment (Established from the merger of the UDR and the Royal Irish Rangers in July 1992)
    n/a - Figures not available
    Sources:
    Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). (2001) Chief Constable's Annual Report, 2000/01.
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Chief Constable's Annual Report, 2002/03.
    Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (2002). Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1999 and 2002 (and 1989, 1995)
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-02:  Strength of Police Service (actual number FTE), 1 October 2018, and Establishment and Actual Strength (number) of PSNI, as at 19 June 2003

    1 Oct 2018 19 Jun 2003
    Badges of Rank Actual Establishment Actual
    Chief Constable 1 1 1
    Deputy Chief Constable 1 1 1
    Assistant Chief Constable 5 6 6
    Chief Superintendent 13 35 31
    Superintendent 46 68 78
    Chief Inspector 89 138 131
    Inspector 329 409 390
    Sergeant 967 1167 1123
    Constable 5017 5675 5261
    Student Officer 109 - -
    Total Regular Officers 6577 7500 7219
    Constable Part-Time 279 - -
    Full-time Reserve 1684 1746
    Part-time Reserve 2500 903
    Notes:
    PSNI - Police Service of Northern Ireland
    Sources:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2018). Strength of Police Service Statistics, (1 October 2018); https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/Statistics/strength-of-police-service-statistics/
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003). Actual Strength of the PSNI as of 19/06/03; http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch/pg_stats_strength_of_police.htm
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Ranks of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, 1995 and 2001

    Rank Effective Strength 20011
    (number)
    Establishment 1995
    (number)
    Chief Constable 1 1
    Deputy Chief Constable 1 2
    Assistant Chief Constable 4 9
    Chief Superintendent / Superintendent 124 42
    Chief Inspector 150 167
    Inspector 433 491
    Sergeant 1,278 1,414
    Constable 5,819 6,243
    Total Regulars: 7,810 8,489

    RUC Reserve Full-Time 2,496 3,202
    RUC Reserve Part-Time 1,073 1,765
    Civilian Staff Full-Time 2,971 -
    Civilian Staff Part-Time 454 -

    Notes:
    1. Does not include secondments; as at 31 March 2001
    Sources:
    Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable's Annual Report, 2001
    Irish Almanac and Yearbook, 1997


    Percentage of PSNI police officers perceived to be Catholic (before, during, and after the Patten 50:50 recruitment policy1), 1990 - 2019 (discontinuous 2), [Data from table below].

    Percentage of Catholic Police Officers, 1990-2018

    Table NI-SEC-16: Percentage of PSNI police officers perceived to be Catholic (before, during, and after the Patten 50:50 recruitment policy 1), 1990 - 2019 (discontinuous 2)
    Date Percentage Catholic Officers Source of data % Catholic Population 3
    1990 7.75% Hansard  
    1991 7.72% Hansard 41.5%
    1992 7.78% Hansard  
    1998 (31 Dec) 8.0% RUC; Patten Report (table 12)  
    23 Nov 2000 50:50 recruitment begins
    2001 (Sep) 8.23% NIO 2010  
    2001 8.1% ECNI, Monitoring Return 43.76%
    2002 8.4% ECNI, Monitoring Return  
    2003 10.5%    
    2005 12.3% ECNI, Monitoring Return  
    2006 (1 Apr) 19.49%    
    2007 (Mar) 21.43% NIO 2010  
    2010 (1 Mar) 27.88% NIO 2010  
    28 March 2011 50:50 recruitment ends
    2011 (May) 30.3%   45.14%
    2012 (1 Nov) 30.41% PSNI; Internet Archive  
    2013 (1 May) 30.63%    
    2014 (4 Mar) 30.79% PSNI; Internet Archive  
    2015 (16 Feb) 30.74%    
    2016 30.4% ECNI, Monitoring Return  
    2017 (1 Nov) 31.50% PSNI Workforce Composition Statistics  
    2018 (1 Jul) 32.1% PSNI Workforce Composition Statistics  
    2019 (1 May) 32.16% PSNI Workforce Composition Statistics  
    Notes:
    1. The policy of recruiting Catholic and Protestand police officers on a 50:50 basis was one of the recommendations of the Patten Report (1999).
    2. Data on perceived religion has been obtained from the various sources (listed in the table alongside the relevant figure). (In the accompanying chart above the line representing the percentage of Catholic officers has been drawn between known points. Missing years are assumed to have been close to this line.)
    3. Estimate of Catholic population based on Table NI-REL-02.
    4. The data in this table is presented to accompany the Chart above.
    Sources:
    Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI). (Annual). Monitoring Returns. Belfast: ECNI. <https://www.equalityni.org/Publications>
    Hansard. (1993). Written Answers, Royal Ulster Constabulary, HC Deb 26 January 1993 vol 217 cc660-9W. London: HC. <https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1993/jan/26/royal-ulster-constabulary>
    Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland. (1999). A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland - The Report of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland, [Patten Report]., (9 September 1999). Belfast: ICPNI. <http://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/patten99.pdf>
    Internet Archive WayBack Machine. (2018). RUC and PSNI archived webpages. <https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://ruc.police.uk/>
    Northern Ireland Office. (NIO). (2010). Explanatory Memorandum to Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2010. 2010 No. 112. London: NIO. <http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2010/112/pdfs/nisrem_20100112_en.pdf>
    PSNI. (Annual). PSNI Workforce Composition Statistics. Belfast: PSNI. <https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/Statistics/workforce-composition-statistics/>
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document

     


    Table NI-SEC-03: British Army Personnel (number) in Northern Ireland, 1969 to 2005 (incomplete)
    Year British Army Total British Regiments UDR / RIR Total UDR / RIR Full-Time UDR / RIR Part-Time
    1969 (Jun) 2700 2700      
    1970 (Jan) 8100 6300 1800    
    1971 11800 7800 4000    
    1972 22800 14300 8500    
    1972 (Jul) 30300 21800 8500    
    1973 (Jan) 26000 16900 9100    
    1974 23900 16200 7700    
    1975 22700 15000 7700    
    1976 22800 15100 7700    
    1977 21900 14300 7600    
    1978 22200 14400 7800    
    1979 21200 13600 7600    
    1980 19300 11900 7400    
    1981 19100 11600 7500    
    1982 18011 10900 7111 2793 4318
    1983 17125 10200 6925 2690 4235
    1984 16468 10000 6468 2689 3779
    1985 16194 9700 6494 2755 3739
    1986 16908 10500 6408 2672 3736
    1987 17931 11400 6531 2785 3746
    1988 17593 11200 6393 2858 3535
    1989 17430 11200 6230 2947 3283
    1990     6043 2955 3088
    1991     6276 3277 2999
    1992 17417 12000 5417 2797 2620
    1993     5412 2902 2510
    1994 (Jul) 19500   5241 2956 2285
    1995          
    1996          
    1997          
    1998 15500 10500 5000 3000 2000
    1999 15500 11150 4350 2500 1850
    2000 (Jun) 13500        
    2001 13000        
    2002
    13681
           
    2003
    13311
           
    2004
    12658
           
    2005 (31 Jul)
    10083
           
    2007 (31 Jul)1
    50001
           
    Notes:
    1. The MOD confirmed on 28 March 2006 the major troop reductions to the planned level of no more than 5,000 by 31 Jul 07.
    UDR - Ulster Defence Regiment (A regiment of the British Army recruited in Northern Ireland, 1 April 1970 to 1 July 1992)
    RIR - Royal Irish Regiment (Established from the merger of the UDR and the Royal Irish Rangers on 1 July 1992)
    This information on British Army troop levels is incomplete, it is hoped to be able to complete the table in the future.
    Sources:
    Hadfield, B. (ed.) (1992) 'Northern Ireland: Politics and the Constitution'. Buckingham: Open University Press.
    Ireland Almanac and Yearbook of Facts, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1994
    Various press reports.
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-04: Deaths (number) due to the security situation in Northern Ireland (only), 1969-2015
    Year Police 1 Police Reserve 2 British Army UDR / RIR 3 Civilian Totals
    1969 4 1 0 0 0 13 14
    1970 2 0 0 0 23 25
    1971 11 0 43 5 115 174
    1972 14 3 105 26 322 470
    1973 10 3 58 8 173 252
    1974 12 3 30 7 168 220
    1975 7 4 14 6 216 247
    1976 13 10 14 15 245 297
    1977 8 6 15 14 69 112
    1978 4 6 14 7 50 81
    1979 9 5 38 10 51 113
    1980 3 6 8 9 50 76
    1981 13 8 10 13 57 101
    1982 8 4 21 7 57 97
    1983 9 9 5 10 44 77
    1984 7 2 9 10 36 64
    1985 14 9 2 4 26 55
    1986 10 2 4 8 37 61
    1987 9 7 3 8 68 95
    1988 4 2 21 12 55 94
    1989 7 2 12 2 39 62
    1990 7 5 7 8 49 76
    1991 5 1 5 8 75 94
    1992 2 1 4 2 76 85
    1993 3 3 6 2 70 84
    1994 3 0 1 2 56 62
    1995 1 0 0 0 8 9
    1996 0 0 1 0 14 15
    1997 3 1 1 0 17 22
    1998 1 0 1 0 53 55
    1999 0 0 0 0 7 7
    2000 0 0 0 0 18 18
    2001 0 0 0 0 17 17
    2002 0 0 0 0 13 13
    2003

    0

    0

    0

    0

    11

    11

    2004 0 0 0 0 5 5
    2005 0 0 0 0 5 5
    2006 0 0 0 0 3 3
    2007 0 0 0 0 3 3
    2008 0 0 0 0 1 1
    2009 1 0 2 0 2 5
    2010 0 0 0 0 2 2
    2011 1 0 0 0 0 1
    2012 0 0 0 0 2 2
    2013 0 0 0 0 1 1
    2014 0 0 0 0 2 2
    2015 0 0 0 0 2 2
    Grand Total 202 102 454 203 2426 3387
    Notes:
    1. Includes Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
    2. Includes Royal Ulster Constabulary / Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve.
    3. Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) / Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) (Home Service Battalions).
    4. Statistics for 1969 deaths are for the period August to December only.
    Sources:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2017). Deaths due to the Security Situation in Northern Ireland 1969-2015 (By Calendar Year), https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/Statistics/security-situation-statistics/
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Deaths due to the Security Situation in Northern Ireland 1969-2003 (By Calendar Year);
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002; Table 6.3
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-05: Persons injured (number) due to the security situation in Northern Ireland (only), 1969 to 2003
    Year Police 1 Army UDR / RIR 2 Civilian Totals
    1968 379 0 n/a n/a 379
    1969 711 54 n/a n/a 765
    1970 191 620 n/a n/a 811
    1971 315 381 9 1,887 2,592
    1972 485 542 36 3,813 4,876
    1973 291 525 23 1,812 2,651
    1974 235 453 30 1,680 2,398
    1975 263 151 16 2,044 2,474
    1976 303 242 22 2,162 2,729
    1977 183 172 15 1,017 1,387
    1978 302 127 8 548 985
    1979 165 132 21 557 875
    1980 194 53 24 530 801
    1981 332 112 28 878 1,350
    1982 99 80 18 328 525
    1983 142 66 22 280 510
    1984 267 64 22 513 866
    1985 415 20 13 468 916
    1986 622 45 10 773 1,450
    1987 246 92 12 780 1,130
    1988 218 211 18 600 1,047
    1989 163 175 15 606 959
    1990 214 190 24 478 906
    1991 139 197 56 570 962
    1992 148 302 18 598 1,066
    1993 147 146 27 504 824
    1994 170 120 6 529 825
    1995 370 8 5 554 937
    1996 459 53 2 905 1,419
    1997 357 136 14 730 1,237
    1998 435 70 17 1130 1,652
    1999 395 20 16 552 983
    2000 446 25 2 591 1,064
    2001 876 44 11 667 1,598
    2002 3 456 39 38 628 1,161
    2003 (to 30/06/03) 3 79 5 1 346 431
    Grand Totals 11212 5672 590 30,058 47541
    Notes:
    1. Includes Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) / Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Reserve.
    2. Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) / Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) (Home Service Battalions)
    3. 2002 and 2003 statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment in the future.
    n/a - not available
    Sources:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Persons injured as a result of the Security Situation in Northern Ireland 1969-2003, (by calendar year);
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002; Table 6.3
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-06: Security related incidents (number) in Northern Ireland (only), shootings, bombings, and incendiaries, 1969 to 2003
    Year Shooting incidents Bombings 1 Incendiaries
    Incidents Devices used Incidents Devices Used
    Bomb Explosions Devices Neutralised Total Devices Used
    1969 73 n/a 9 1 10 n/a 0
    1970 213 n/a 153 17 170 n/a 0
    1971 1,756 n/a 1022 493 1515 n/a 0
    1972 10,631 n/a 1382 471 1853 n/a 0
    1973 5,019 n/a 978 542 1520 n/a 0
    1974 3,208 n/a 685 428 1113 n/a 270
    1975 1,803 n/a 399 236 635 n/a 56
    1976 1,908 n/a 766 426 1192 n/a 236
    1977 1,081 n/a 366 169 535 n/a 608
    1978 755 n/a 455 178 633 n/a 115
    1979 728 n/a 422 142 564 n/a 60
    1980 642 n/a 280 120 400 n/a 2
    1981 1,142 n/a 398 131 529 n/a 49
    1982 547 n/a 219 113 332 n/a 36
    1983 424 n/a 266 101 367 n/a 43
    1984 334 n/a 193 55 248 n/a 10
    1985 238 n/a 148 67 215 n/a 36
    1986 392 n/a 172 82 254 n/a 21
    1987 674 n/a 236 148 384 n/a 9
    1988 538 n/a 253 205 458 n/a 8
    1989 566 n/a 224 196 420 n/a 7
    1990 557 236 166 120 286 26 33
    1991 499 312 231 137 368 144 237
    1992 506 318 222 149 371 86 126
    1993 476 257 206 83 289 45 61
    1994 348 207 123 99 222 88 115
    1995 50 2 1 1 2 10 10
    1996 125 17 8 17 25 4 4
    1997 225 78 43 50 93 9 9
    1998 211 127 n/a n/a 243 20 20
    1999 125 82 n/a n/a 100 7 7
    2000 302 117 n/a n/a 135 22 22
    2001 355 349 n/a n/a 444 5 6
    2002 350 188 n/a n/a 239 3 3
    2003
    (to 30/06/03) 2
    122 40 n/a n/a 45 6 6
    Grand totals 36923       16209   2225
    Notes:
    1. Includes explosions / ignitions and defusings. Incidents involving petrol bombs or hoax calls are excluded
    2. Statistics for 2003 are provisional and may be subject to amendment
    n/a Not available.
    Sources:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Security Related Incidents 1969-2003 (by calendar year);
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002; Table 6.2
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-07: Firearms, and explosive finds in Northern Ireland (only), 1969-2003
    Year Firearms found (number) Explosives found (kg)
    1969 1 14 102
    1970 324 305
    1971 716 1,246
    1972 1,259 18,819
    1973 1,313 17,426
    1974 1,236 11,848
    1975 820 4,996
    1976 736 9,849
    1977 563 1,728
    1978 393 956
    1979 300 905
    1980 203 821
    1981 357 3,419
    1982 288 2,298
    1983 166 1,706
    1984 187 3,871
    1985 173 3,344
    1986 174 2,443
    1987 206 5,885
    1988 489 4,728
    1989 246 1,377
    1990 179 1,969
    1991 164 4,167
    1992 194 2,167
    1993 196 3,944
    1994 178 1,285
    1995 118 5
    1996 98 1,677
    1997 105 1,258
    1998 88 883
    1999 113 89
    2000 134 311
    2001 97 117
    2002 125 8
    2003 (to 30/06/03) 2 73 17
    Grand totals 12025 115969
    Notes:
    1. Statistics for 1969 are for the period August to December only
    2. Statistics for 2003 are provisional and may be subject to amendment
    Sources:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Firearms and Explosives Finds, 1969-2003 (By Calendar Year);
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002; Table 6.2
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-08: Armed robberies, 1969 to 2001-02
    Year Armed Robberies 1 (number) Armed robberies (Amount in £000s)
    1969 2 - -
    1970 - -
    1971 489 304
    1972 1,931 795
    1973 1,317 612
    1974 1,353 576
    1975 1,325 572
    1976 889 545
    1977 676 447
    1978 493 223
    1979 504 568
    1980 467 497
    1981 689 855
    1982 693 1,392
    1983 718 830
    1984 710 702
    1985 542 656
    1986 839 1,207
    1987 955 1,900
    1988 742 1,389
    1989 604 1,079
    1990 492 1,729
    1991 607 1,673
    1992 739 1,666
    1993 643 1,515
    1994 555 1,709
    1995 421 838
    1996 405 2,840
    1997 401 1,810
    1997-98 396 1,845
    1998-99 367 1,028
    1999-00 432 1,687
    2000-01 509 2,180
    2001-02 636 7,405
    Grand totals 22539 43,074
    Notes:
    1. Where a firearm is used or the impression of a firearm is given. Figures include attempts.
    2. Statistics for 1969 are for the period August to December only.
    Source:
    Northern Ireland Annual Abstract of Statistics 2002; Table 6.2
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-09: Number of people charged with terrorist and other serious offences (numbers), 1969-2003
    Year Persons Charged
    1972 1 531
    1973 1,418
    1974 1,374
    1975 1,197
    1976 1,276
    1977 1,308
    1978 843
    1979 670
    1980 550
    1981 918
    1982 686
    1983 613
    1984 528
    1985 522
    1986 655
    1987 471
    1988 440
    1989 433
    1990 383
    1991 404
    1992 418
    1993 372
    1994 349
    1995 440
    1996 595
    1997 405
    1998 459
    1999 296
    2000 303
    2001 290
    2002 333
    2003 (to 31/06/03) 2 125
    Grand totals 19605
    Notes:
    1. From 31 July 1972
    2. Statistics for 2003 are provisional and may be subject to amendment
    Source:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI): Number of people charged with terrorist and serious public order offences, 1972-2003 (By Calendar Year);
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-10: Number of persons charged with terrorist and serious public order offences by paramilitary grouping, 2000-2003
    Type of charge 1 2000 2001 3 2002 3
    Loyalist Republican Loyalist Republican Loyalist Republican
    Murder 7 1 4 2 0 0
    Attempted Murder 13 2 4 2 14 5
    Firearms offences 34 21 33 16 44 9
    Explosives offences 3 13 11 4 3 8
    Armed robbery 8 8 0 3 4 2
    Other 2 142 51 114 66 99 73
    Total 207 96 166 93 164 97
    Grand Total 303 259 261
    Notes:
    1. Where an individual has been charged for a number of offences, only the most serious offence is shown
    2. For example, petrol bombing and hijacking offences
    3. Statistics for 2001 and 2002 are provisional and may be changed
    Source:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Number of people charged with terrorist and serious public order offences, 1972-2003 (By Calendar Year);
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-11:  Casualties (numbers) as a result of paramilitary 'punishment' attacks in Northern Ireland, 1973-2009 (Calendar Year), and 2010/11-2017/18 (Financial Year)
    Year Shootings 1 Assaults 2 Shootings and Assaults
    Total By Loyalist Group By Republican Group Total By Loyalist Group By Republican Group Total Casualties (Shootings and Assaults) Total by Loyalist Group Total by Republican Group
    1973 74 21 53 - n/a n/a - - -
    1974 127 43 84 - n/a n/a - - -
    1975 189 50 139 - n/a n/a - - -
    1976 98 36 62 - n/a n/a - - -
    1977 126 28 98 - n/a n/a - - -
    1978 67 17 50 - n/a n/a - - -
    1979 76 25 51 - n/a n/a - - -
    1980 77 26 51 - n/a n/a - - -
    1981 80 14 66 - n/a n/a - - -
    1982 81 22 59 - n/a n/a - - -
    1983 31 9 22 - n/a n/a - - -
    1984 26 6 20 - n/a n/a - - -
    1985 32 11 21 - n/a n/a - - -
    1986 41 24 17 - n/a n/a - - -
    1987 124 67 57 - n/a n/a - - -
    1988 66 34 32 56 21 35 122 55 67
    1989 161 65 96 51 23 28 212 88 124
    1990 106 60 46 68 21 47 174 81 93
    1991 76 40 36 62 22 40 138 62 76
    1992 133 72 61 74 36 38 207 108 99
    1993 85 60 25 41 35 6 126 95 31
    1994 122 68 54 70 38 32 192 106 86
    1995 3 3 0 217 76 141 220 79 141
    1996 24 21 3 302 130 172 326 151 175
    1997 72 46 26 156 78 78 228 124 104
    1998 72 34 38 144 89 55 216 123 93
    1999 73 47 26 134 90 44 207 137 70
    2000 136 86 50 132 78 54 268 164 104
    2001 186 121 65 146 93 53 332 214 118
    2002 173 117 56 139 89 50 312 206 106
    2003 156 101 55 149 103 46 305 204 101
    2004 112 89 23 115 74 41 227 163 64
    2005 85 74 11 89 60 29 174 134 40
    2006 36 25 11 49 33 16 85 58 27
    2007 6 1 5 46 39 7 52 40 12
    2008 16 3 13 40 28 12 56 31 25
    2009 41 1 40 81 65 16 122 66 56
    2010 3 11 0 11 16 15 1 27 15 12
    2010/114 33 0 33 50 34 16 83 34 49
    2011/12 33 0 33 46 31 15 79 31 48
    2012/13 27 1 26 36 27 9 63 28 35
    2013/14 28 9 19 42 37 5 70 46 24
    2014/15 36 6 30 58 42 16 94 48 46
    2015/16 14 1 13 58 47 11 72 48 24
    2016/17 28 3 25 66 56 10 94 59 35
    2017/18 22 1 21 65 50 15 87 51 36
    Grand totals 3421 1588 1833 2798 1660 1138 - - -
    Notes:
    1. "Shootings" refers to paramilitary 'punishment' attacks involving guns
    2.  "Assaults" (or beatings) refers to paramilitary 'punishment' attacks which did not involve guns
    3.  Statistics for 2010 are for 3 months (to 31st March)
    4.  From 1st April 2010, statistics are for financial year (1 April to 31 March)
    n/a  not available
    Source:
    Casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks 1973 - 2017/18, (By Calendar Year, and Financial Year), https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/Statistics/security-situation-statistics/security-situation-statistics-archive/
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-12: Parade statistics (numbers), 2002 and 2001
    2002 Loyalist 1 Nationalist 2 Other Total
    Total parades 2,453 155 477 3,085
    Legal parades 2,452 152 477 3,081
    Illegal parades 1 3 0 4
    Of the total:

    Parades re-routed 38 1 1 40
    Parades with other conditions imposed 69 2 0 71
    Parades at which disorder occurred 22 4 0 26
    2001 Loyalist 1 Nationalist 2 Other Total
    Total parades 2218 123 381 2722
    Legal parades 2203 116 380 2699
    Illegal parades 15 7 1 23
    Of the total:

    Parades re-routed 43 3 2 48
    Parades with other conditions imposed 42 4 1 47
    Parades at which disorder occurred 26 1 2 29
    Notes:
    1. 'Loyalist' parades include those organised by the Orange Order, the Royal Black Preceptory and the Apprentice Boys as well as band parades/contests or protest marches involving the loyalist community.
    2. 'Nationalist' parades includes parades organised by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish National Foresters as well as band parades/contests or protest marches involving the nationalist community.
    Source:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Parade Statistics, 2000-2002;
    http://www.psni.police.uk/index/departments/statistics_branch.htm
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Table NI-SEC-13: Outcomes 1 of complaints (numbers) against the police, during 2002-03 2
    Type of complaint Substantiated Not Substantiated Withdrawn Incapable of Investigation Total Completed
    Assault 1 163 10 46 220
    Incivility 2 33 0 3 38
    Neglect of duty 2 27 1 6 36
    Oppressive conduct/harassment 0 19 1 8 28
    Unlawful arrest/detention 0 10 0 3 13
    Irregularity in procedure 0 11 0 2 13
    Irregularity regarding evidence/perjury 0 6 0 1 3
    Traffic offence 0 0 0 0 7
    Irregularity in search of premises 0 3 0 0 0
    Corrupt practice 0 1 0 0 4
    Mishandling of property 0 4 0 0 0
    Discriminatory behaviour 0 0 0 0 1
    Other 3 13 0 2 18
    Totals 8 290 12 71 381
    Notes:
    1. Figuers relate to complaints that were initially recorded up to 5th November 2000. From 6th November 2000 responsibility for the recording and investigation of complaints against the police passed to the Office of the Police Ombudsman
    2. During the period 2002/03 the Police Service of Northern Ireland resolved 291 complaints with 332 allegations forwarded to them by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland for Informal Resolution.
    Source:
    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). (2003) Chief Constables Annual Report 2002/03;
    http://www.psni.police.uk/reportofchiefconstable.pdf
    Table also available as:
    Rich Text Format (RTF) Document; Microsoft Excel Document


    Outcomes of Complaints against the Police Completed during 2001/02*

    Type of complaint Substaniated Not Substantiated Informally Resolved Withdrawn Incapable of Investigation Total Completed
    Assault 4 583 16 55 166 824
    Incivility 8 228 150 5 22 413
    Neglect of duty 19 105 161 7 25 317
    Oppressive conduct/harrassment 3 173 31 3 20 230
    Unlawful arrest/detention 0 49 3 4 26 82
    Irregularity in procedure 2 39 22 2 8 73
    Irregularity regarding evidence/perjury 0 25 3 0 2 30
    Traffic offence 0 10 10 1 3 24
    Irregularity in search of premises 0 11 10 0 2 23
    Corrupt practice 1 13 0 0 1 15
    Mishandling of property 0 7 4 0 2 13
    Discriminatory behaviour 0 2 3 0 0 7
    Other 1 56 4 5 13 79
    Totals 38 1,301 417 82 290 2,128

    Notes:
    * Figures realte to complaints that were initially recorded up to 5th November 2000 only. From 6th November 2000, responsibility for the recording and investigation of complaints against the police passed to the Office of the Police Ombudsman.
    Source: Outcomes of Complaints against the police completed during 2001/02, Chief Constables Report 2001/02, http://www.psni.police.uk/reports/Report2.pdf


    Public Attitudes to Policing: Results of a survey conducted September 1996

    (i) Confidence in the Police:

    .

    Catholics

    Protestants

    Confidence re.
    General Policing issues

    60%

    90%

    Confidence re.
    Parades and Marches issue

    34%

    73%

    Source: "A Partnership for Change": A report on Further consultation by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland


    (ii) Performance of Local Police:

    .

    1994/1995

    Sept. 1996

    .

    Total
    %

    Protestant
    %

    Catholic
    %

    Total
    %

    Protestant
    %

    Catholic
    %

    Very / fairly good

    74

    79

    67

    68

    77

    55

    Neither good or bad

    11

    10

    14

    13

    10

    17

    Very / fairly poor

    9

    7

    13

    17

    12

    25

    Don't Know / Refusal

    5

    4

    6

    2

    1

    3

    Source: "A Partnership for Change": A report on Further consultation by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland


  • CAIN contains information and source material on the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland.
    CAIN is based within Ulster University.


    go to the top of this page go to the top of this page
    ARK logo
    Last modified :