Independent seats on new bodies monitoring police performance could be left empty because of low Catholic application rates, it was claimed today.
As it emerged that 22 per cent of the 1479 people bidding to join the District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) were Catholics, Democratic Unionist MLA Mr Sammy Wilson warned major problems were looming.
He claimed: "Either totally unsuitable candidates will be chosen or else some seats will have to be left vacant."
The 29 new DPPs are scheduled to be operating in council areas across Northern Ireland early next year.
Working closely with district commanders to tackle local policing needs, the bodies are to be made up jointly of councillors and independent members.
Around 250 independent seats have to be filled in total, with the Northern Ireland Policing Board required to ensure the demographics of each council area are reflected in its final appointments.
Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea and SDLP policing spokesman Mr Alex Attwood both welcomed the Catholic response to the DPPs along with the latest application rates to the PSNI.
Out of 4,327 forms returned in the fourth police recruitment campaign, 1,514 (35 per cent) were from Catholics.
Prof Rea said: "The campaign was designed to raise awareness of the DPPs and to encourage people to become involved.
PA