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The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) is urging the UK government to provide an “urgent bail-out” for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), citing a funding crisis. According to PFNI chair Liam Kelly, Stormont does not have sufficient funds to assist the PSNI, which requires hundreds of millions for various purposes, including settling compensation claims from a data breach in 2023. Additionally, the PSNI is seeking £200 million for a recovery plan to increase officer numbers, a request that the Northern Ireland Executive currently cannot fulfill.
Kelly is calling on Secretary of State Hilary Benn to intervene and address the financial challenges faced by the PSNI. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive bail-out to cover all outstanding financial obligations, urging Benn to advocate for the service and its personnel at the cabinet and Downing Street level. Kelly emphasized that Benn cannot remain passive and should not use policing being devolved as an excuse to avoid addressing the funding crisis.
The majority of the PSNI’s funding comes from the Department of Justice (DoJ) through the block grant, with an additional contribution from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to tackle national security threats and paramilitarism. Currently, the PSNI consists of 6,200 officers and 2,200 staff. Kelly highlighted the contrast between the declining officer numbers in the PSNI and the recruitment efforts in Ireland, where the government announced funding for 1,000 new recruits for An Garda Síochána. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has raised concerns about the annual spending of £25 million on legacy costs related to the Northern Ireland Troubles, prompting the Northern Ireland Policing Board to support discussions on the issue with Benn. Despite this, Benn has stated that the police budget falls under the jurisdiction of the justice minister and the chief constable to prioritize
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