The PSNI has a national role in policing our land border and should be given appropriate resources. There is a need for central Government to ensure that the national security elements of policing are adequately resourced.

The hon. Member agreed with Robin Swann's points but raised concerns about a disconnect between senior PSNI leadership and community engagement, particularly regarding Protestant Unionist Loyalist communities.

Charlotte Cane highlighted the challenges faced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, noting a decrease in student officer recruitment applications. She pointed out that PSNI officers carry personal protection firearms even off-duty and stressed the inadequacy of the current training college at Garnerville as identified by the Patten commission 26 years ago. She also raised concerns over legacy costs and funding pressures affecting operational policing and recruitment.

I thanked Sir Roger for allowing me to contribute and acknowledged the hon. Member for North Down for securing the debate. I expressed concern over the funding model that the PSNI faces, noting its non-departmental status compared to other parts of the criminal justice system which have received more resources. I highlighted the importance of supporting the legacy of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation and ensuring a positive future for policing in Northern Ireland. The NIO rarely exercises its powers regarding the Parades Commission. The issue on the weekend was protesters could not adhere to a lawful determination due to police actions blocking where they were supposed to protest.

I congratulate the hon. Member on securing this debate and agrees that a state-of-the-art training facility is needed, but stresses the need for more police officers on the streets as the Police Service of Northern Ireland is understaffed.

Supports the need for a modern training facility for the PSNI but criticises the devolution of policing to Stormont. Expresses concern over the lack of financial support from the Stormont Executive and questions the prioritisation of police needs under Sinn Féin's Finance Minister. Raises concerns about potential political correctness in PSNI training, referencing the 'Race and Ethnicity Action Plan 2025-2030' and questioning its impact on fair policing. Has it come to this? Labour's Patten report recommended 7,500 police officers and a new training centre. Does the current Labour Government feel no connection or commitment to these recommendations?

Mr. Shannon thanked the hon. Member for North Down for his dedication to ensuring a strong police service in Northern Ireland and acknowledged the PSNI's commitment. He highlighted the 25th anniversary of the training college, noting that over 4,000 applications were received this year. Mr. Shannon recounted an incident involving his son's application to join the PSNI under the former 50:50 rule, emphasizing its unfairness and the importance of merit-based recruitment. He discussed the various challenges faced by the PSNI, including border issues with the Republic of Ireland, rural theft, terrorism threats, and cyber-crime. Mr. Shannon stressed the need for greater investment in training and support services to equip officers physically and mentally for their demanding roles. When previous Governments committed to reviewing the Barnett formula, nothing happened. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee recommended a review of the formula and now requests change to find funds for the police training college. The PSNI budget has been affected by legacy costs of over £200 million annually. Suggested finding another methodology for the legacy funding that would alleviate this burden and allow some funds to be used for the training college.

John Woodcock agreed that investing in a modern police college is crucial for Northern Ireland's policing needs. He highlighted the shortfall of 1,000 police officers in Northern Ireland due to inadequate funding from the Justice Minister.

The hon. Member discussed the PSNI training facility at Kinnegar and highlighted concerns over centralisation, relocation of staff, and financial pressures on the police service. Asked the Minister about the transformation funding received by the PSNI, noting several bids had been made but not clarified how much was actually obtained.