Stormont can’t fund recruitment plan federation claims

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has been told Stormont cannot find the money for a £200m plan to increase officer numbers, the Police Federation has claimed.

Speaking at a conference in Enniskillen, its chairman, Liam Kelly, said he was “appalled” by the situation.

The PSNI recently submitted a business case for the extra cash, which was being assessed by the Department of Finance.

Mr Kelly claimed the department recently told Chief Constable Jon Boutcher there is no money to support the plan.

Mr Boutcher’s plan aims to increase officer numbers to 7,000 – the service currently has about 6,200 officers, the lowest in its 24-year history.

Recruitment is already under way, but the chief constable wanted his recovery plan funded on top of his annual budget.

The Police Federation represents the organisation’s rank and file.

Addressing its annual conference, Mr Kelly said without a “last-minute rethink” by Stormont, the plan has been “effectively shredded”.

He continued: “To say there is disappointment would be a gross understatement.

“It would be more accurate to say this federation is appalled by this decision.

“It is a slap in the face to our officers.”

He went on to state that he believed policing is “at the back of the queue” when it comes to budget allocations from Stormont.

“Nobody in government seems to care or give a damn,” he remarked.

A recent inspection report warned financial pressures are limiting what the PSNI is able to do, including monitoring violent offenders and neighbourhood patrolling.