Following the partition of Ireland a new police force for the newly formed Northern Ireland was established on 1st June, 1922. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (R.U.C.) replaced the previous Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.). Following the Patten report the police force was reformed and renamed as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (P.S.N.I.) on 4th November, 2001.

To commemorate this significant anniversary a special service will be held in Kilbride Parish Church to recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by police officers in Northern Ireland over 100 years.

The preacher will be the Rev. Campbell Dixon, M.B.E., a former officer in the R.U.C. and later the P.S.N.I. for 33 years before retiring in 2004. He was ordained in 2007 and has served in St. Patrick’s, Jordanstown, St Anne’s Cathedral and St Mark’s, Ballysillan.