Policing Board Members have been told by the Chief Constable that the £51.4m cuts required to policing will have an immediate and direct impact on the capacity and capability of the PSNI.
Speaking about discussions with the Chief Constable at the Board’s monthly meeting, Chair Anne Connolly said:
“It is clear that despite the best efforts of the Chief Constable to plan and manage the budget cuts, the magnitude of the monies now required from police funds will have a very serious impact for the PSNI.
The Chief Constable has clearly outlined the level of cuts required across policing and the areas of police activity that will be affected. Board Members are under no illusion of the severity of the impacts for the PSNI and to the levels of service to the public.
The job of the police is to keep people safe and the service has to meet its statutory duties in that. But these savings cannot be delivered without a very direct impact on the capacity and capability of the PSNI and that was the extremely stark message from the Chief Constable.
As a Board we remain committed to working with the Chief Constable and doing what we can in managing this situation in the time ahead.”
Ends
For further information please contact the Policing Board's Communications Branch on 07801 738795.
Notes to Editors