Orde expresses regret at Stormont raid methods

The chief constable of the North’s police service has expressed regret for the manner in which his officers raided Sinn Féin’s offices at Stormont last Friday.

Up to 200 officers were involved in the raid, which focused on just one desk inside the offices.

Mr Orde admitted today that the handling of the search lacked sensitivity, but said the search itself was necessary.

“I regret the way it was done,” he said. “I have no difficulty apologising when the police service gets things wrong.

"What I would stress, however, is [that] the need to carry out that search was absolute in my mind. If we had not done that, we would have left ourselves open to criticism.”