Former Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has described the 50-50 recruitment process to the PSNI as “absolutely critical” to the sweeping reform programme recommended in the Patten Report.

Sir Hugh, now president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, was speaking to the Belfast Telegraph as the controversial recruitment system — designed to encourage more Catholic applicants — came to an end yesterday.

The recruitment proposals contained in the Patten Report, which was published in 1999, were part of 175 recommendations for change.

“Without that one (on recruitment) we wouldn't have achieved the community confidence necessary to drive the reform programme forward,” Sir Hugh said.