In November 2001, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as recommended by the Patten Report. The PSNI was established to create a police service that was acceptable to all communities in Northern Ireland. The establishment of the PSNI was a key part of the peace process, symbolizing a new beginning for policing in Northern Ireland.

The establishment of the PSNI is a subject of political poetry, with writers exploring the symbolism of the new police service. The PSNI's commitment to community policing is often contrasted with the RUC's history of sectarianism, creating a sense of change. The poetry of the period reflects the hope and optimism of the peace process, a theme that would persist in the literature of the early 21st century.