Extent of PSNI Cuts

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:

1. Full extent of PSNI cuts revealed http://www.u.tv/News/Full-extent-of-PSNI-cuts-revealed/d967879b-de05-432a-881f-8e638b59f55e
2. 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

Cannabis Accounts for 80% of Increasing Drugs Seizures and Arrests

In the year from 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2013 there was a rise by almost 8% in the number of drug seizures in Northern Ireland compared to the previous 12 months. There was also a 3% increase in the number of arrests for drug offences [1].

The Price of Information

The police call them ‘covert human intelligence sources’, but everyone else calls them informers, and it has been revealed that the PSNI pay over £400,000 a year to such informers [1].

‘Jobs for the Boys’ Gives Little Value for Money

It has cost over £100million since 2004, but the Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee has found that the PSNI’s procurement of agency staff did not provide value for money. In addition, the committee also highlighted problems with poor oversight of the system, a lack of accountability to the Police Ombudsman in relation to temporary workers and equality concerns due to many agency staff being former PSNI officers [1, 2].

Policing Costs

It has been a very difficult year or so for the PSNI and some information has come to light recently which shows the huge financial costs involved in policing during this time.