Police cuts plan criticised

MOVES to axe half of Northern Ireland’s police command areas were challenged yesterday by the man overseeing changes to the service.

As Oversight Commissioner Al Hutchinson urged Sinn Féin to end its boycott of the developing arrangements, he warned against slashing district units too soon.

Mr Hutchinson insisted such a dramatic scaling back could be at odds with the Patten proposals for giving the public access to officers through the District Policing Partnerships (DPP).

“All of a sudden it would become a bureaucratic commander at a distance from their community. I’m expressing my concern that it’s contrary to the intent of Patten.”

At present the Police Service of Northern Ireland is split into 29 district command units, based on local council areas.

Chief constable Hugh Orde says that number is excessive and a submission by senior officers to the review of public administration stresses the PSNI could operate effectively with between 12 and 15 DCUs. But Mr Hutchinson insists reductions should not take place before the councils issue is resolved.