The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Chris Bryant, marked the 25th anniversary of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in a statement published on 4 November 2026, describing its establishment as a major milestone in Northern Ireland's history.

Bryant said that a quarter of a century earlier Northern Ireland had set out to build a modern, accountable and representative police service capable of attracting and sustaining support across the whole community, which he described as a core pillar of the vision set out in the Belfast Agreement. He said policing had undergone significant transformation over the 25 years since.

The secretary of state paid tribute to serving and former officers from across Northern Ireland for their courage, professionalism and integrity, and remembered officers who died in the line of duty over the past 25 years as well as those who served before them in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, saying their sacrifice and that of their families would never be forgotten.

He said policing had faced profound challenges but that policing by consent remained the bedrock of a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland.