Long disappointed by comments by PFNI
Date published:
Justice Minister, Naomi Long, is disappointed by comments made by the Police Federation NI (PFNI) at its annual conference today.
The Minister said:
“I have been consistent in my support of the PSNI and for the need to have an appropriately funded justice system.
“Comments today that the recovery business case has ‘been effectively shredded’ are inaccurate and extremely unhelpful. Such narrative only serves to unsettle and demotivate an already pressurised police service.
“The recovery business case has been approved in terms of value for money. The challenge is now in identifying sufficient funding to allow us to rebuild police numbers and I will be having meetings and discussions in the near future on the challenges of affordability and next steps.”
Addressing comments that ‘policing was at the back of the queue when it came to financial allocations’, the Minister said:
“In October 24 my department was allocated £39.3m in the monitoring round. Coupled with easements of £7.4m arising within the department, the PSNI received £36.7m (79%) of the total available at that time. During the current monitoring round, the Executive has allocated an indicative allocation of £5m for Safer Communities. The PSNI will receive £4.75m (95%) of that allocation.”
On legacy costs and sentencing the Minister said:
“I concur with the PFNI that the cost of legacy cases to the PSNI is unacceptable. No other modern day police service carries such burden, and I have raised this with the Secretary of State and will continue to have those conversations.
“I have already committed to introducing a new offence of assaulting a person providing services to the public. This will be brought forward within the sentencing Bill and will provide increased protections for those frontline services who protect and care for us on a daily basis including the PSNI, firefighters, paramedics and doctors and nurses.”
In conclusion the Minister reiterated her support for police officers and staff. She said:
“I wholly appreciate the Police Service of Northern Ireland and greatly value the work they do. I will continue to push for a better deal for justice and will work with colleagues across government to help deliver this.”
Notes to editors:
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