The Troubles: RUC/PSNI personnel 1971-2011

From the early 1970s until the early 1980s, the number of police officers serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) more than doubled from around 4,000 to 8,000 full time officers, and it stayed at more than 8,000 officers until the end of the Troubles in 1998. The RUC was then superseded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2001, and its numbers then dropped to around 7,000 officers in its first decade. Additionally, the RUC was supported by its reserve force, whose membership peaked at almost 5,000 personnel in the mid-1970s, and remained at over 4,000 until the end of the Troubles.

Total number of people working for the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from 1971 to 2011

Characteristic	RUC/PSNI	RUC/PSNI reserve
2011	7,020	880
2010	7,183	1,085
2009	7,203	1,275
2008	7,267	1,501
2007	7,314	1,634
2006	7,299	1,841
2005	7,233	2,309
2004	7,212	2,436
2003	6,940	2,733
2002	6,976	3,185
2001	7,894	3,365
2000	8,393	3,840
1999	8,496	4,079
1998*	8,505	4,274
1997	8,485	4,306
1996	8,428	4,402
1995	8,440	4,419
1994	8,493	4,690
1993	8,464	4,572
1992	8,478	4,593
1991	8,222	4,560
1990	8,243	4,544
1989	8,259	4,623
1988	8,227	4,649
1987	8,236	4,650
1986	8,234	4,414
1985	8,259	4,508
1984	8,127	4,439
1983	8,003	4,493
1982	7,718	4,840
1981	7,334	4,870
1980	6,935	4,752
1979	6,614	4,513
1978	6,110	4,608
1977	5,692	4,686
1976	5,253	4,697
1975	4,902	4,819
1974	4,565	3,860
1973	4,391	2,514
1972	4,257	2,134
1971	4,086	1,284

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Release date

July 2023

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Region

Ireland, United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

Survey time period

1971 to 2011

Supplementary notes

The RUC became the PSNI on November 4, 2001.

*Figures refer to fiscal years (April to March) from 1998 onward.

Release date refers to date of most recent access.

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