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Progress is being made in bolstering the ranks of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) - with three phases of recruitment planned going forward, the chief constable has confirmed.

In his report to the Policing Board, George Hamilton said he expected to take on 378 new officers over the current financial year - with initial appointments starting in spring 2015.

He said candidates for the second phase of recruitment were currently going through the assessment centre process. The "merit list" is expected in December.

CC Hamilton added in his report that a third campaign was scheduled for launch in January and preparations - including establishing "outreach and advertising" materials - were being made.

As previously reported on PoliceOracle.com, there have been significant concerns over declining officer numbers in Northern Ireland, which are now below 7,000.

Senior Federation officials have warned that more officers are likely to leave the force in the future as they move to maximise their pension entitlements.

They have also stressed that the terrorist threat in Northern Ireland remains Severe, with police personnel frequently targeted by dissident Republicans, matched with a complex public order situation.

Chairman Terry Spence has suggested that 1,000 extra constables should be recruited as a matter of urgency. He has also highlighted that the PSNI found itself stretched during the 2013 parading season, when mutual aid had to be called from the UK mainland.

But CC Hamilton told the Policing Board that numbers were being bolstered - and that there were nearly 160 student officers either in training or entering imminently.

He added that external recruitment competitions were underway for staff.

The chief constable said in his report: "These include ICT staff, researchers, heads of custody healthcare, physical education and process improvement unit, digital communications manager staff and occupational health and nursing advisors.

"These posts are subject to the challenging financial situation the PSNI now finds itself in."