The latest figures on recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland have firmly dispelled two persistent myths.
Claims that Catholic applications to the new force have been disappointingly low, and that, because of the 50/50 guideline, substantial numbers of well-qualified Protestants have turned away by the PSNI, have both been proved to be false.
Instead, recruitment from both sections of the community has been progressing at an impressive rate.
The latest round of 6,050 applications included 2,218 Catholics, representing 36.6% of the overall total.
As a result, 540 new officers, 270 Catholics and 270 non-Catholics, will join the police service.
This means that, only 18 months after its launch, the Catholic composition of the PSNI has reached 12.2%, compared to a level of 8.45% when the former RUC was phased out.
While this is marginally behind the aim of 13% set by the Inspectorate of Constabulary last year, it is actually ahead of the schedule laid down by the Patten report.
The consequence is that the PSNI is now well on course to achieve the target of 29% for Catholics which Patten recommended for the year 2011.
In an ideal world, it would not be necessary to monitor the religious balance of a police service so closely. However, the reality is that, for a variety of reasons, some within its control and many not, the RUC was overwhelmingly drawn from one side of a divided society.
A fresh start was required, and the PSNI during its brief history has already displayed that it is fully capable of reaching the highest possible standards.
It faces many challenges, and it is essential that its performance in all areas is kept under close scrutiny by members of the policing board and district partnerships.
The sooner Sinn Féin representatives provide the final piece in the policing jigsaw by taking their seats on these bodies, the better.
