Justice Minister Naomi Long delivered the opening address on the second day of the Foundations and Future: Policing 2026 and Beyond Conference at Ulster University Belfast.
The event was organised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board, with hosting duties shared between Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.
The gathering commemorates the 25th anniversary of the policing framework established following the Patten review.
Minister Long stated that lasting confidence in law enforcement must transcend the politics of the moment.
She argued that such trust needs to be rooted in fair, impartial and accountable policing that serves all members of society.
The Minister warned that this level of confidence cannot simply be assumed.
According to her remarks, maintaining public trust requires active community engagement alongside integrity and ethical conduct.
She highlighted the necessity for respect, empathy, fairness and impartiality within police operations.
Effective accountability mechanisms were identified as a core requirement for sustaining that confidence.
Minister Long also stressed the importance of a willingness to listen, even when difficult messages are received from the public.