The Police Service of Northern Ireland welcomes the Rachel Langdale KC Review which was commissioned by the Chief Constable Jon Boutcher to provide independent scrutiny, constructive challenge and assurance in this important area of our work.
The decision to commission the review in April 2025 reflects the service’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (pictured) said: “The review recognises a number of positive developments and the significant work already undertaken by officers and staff. It also identifies areas where further improvement is required. I have accepted all the recommendations in full and am committed to building on the progress already made.
“We are developing a refreshed and updated Violence Against Women and Children Action Plan, where the recommendations from this review will be included, setting out our clear priorities, responsibilities and timescales for delivery. Robust governance arrangements will continue to ensure senior oversight and sustained implementation of the recommendations. We will also report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on our progress.
“The review was commissioned as an assurance exercise to inform improvement and strengthen operational delivery. In commissioning the report, particular care was taken to ensure that it remained an internal report.
"This approach was adopted to create a safe and trusted environment for those contributing, allowing individuals to speak openly and candidly without fear of identification or adverse consequence. This, in turn, enabled the most honest and constructive insights to emerge. We are committed to acting on its findings and to demonstrating measurable progress in the areas identified.
“I am sharing the foreword and recommendations at this stage to provide visibility of the key findings and proposed actions arising from the review. These elements capture the overarching themes and intended direction of travel for the organisation as we continue to seek to learn and improve systems and processes.
“Our focus remains on delivering the highest standards of policing for the communities we serve and maintaining public confidence through continuous improvement and accountability.
“I thank Rachel Langdale KC and her team for their approach to this report and for her honest assessment of our systems processes and culture.”