The PSNI Chief Constable, George Harrison, has indicated that budget cuts will result in severe detrimental effects to the services that the police provide.
UTV obtained a confidential document in which the Chief Constable laid out the consequences of a reduced budget. He covered scenarios of 3% (or £22m), 4% (or £29m) and 5% (or £37m) cuts. The budget could be reduced by over £80m [1]. The effects included impacts on police training, civilian and temporary job losses, possible winding up of the Historical Enquiries Team and consequences for live investigations.
The PSNI currently has a budget of £1.2bn, but three-quarters of that is taken up by pay and pensions [2]. As these forecasts have come from the Chief Constable it can be seen that these are worst-case scenarios and that a gloomy picture has been painted in order to place influence on the politicians that will be making the budget decisions. However, there does seem to be huge challenges facing the Chief Constable.
Further Reading:
- Full extent of PSNI cuts revealed http://www.u.tv/News/Full-extent-of-PSNI-cuts-revealed/d967879b-de05-432a-881f-8e638b59f55e
- Police cuts laid bare: Chief Constable George Hamilton reveals fears for PSNI in secret report http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/police-cuts-laid-bare-chief-constable-george-hamilton-reveals-fears-for-psni-in-secret-report-30589430.html