DUP criticises PSNI intelligence after Belfast robbery

A Democratic Unionist Party councillor has criticised the PSNI's intelligence capabilities following last weekend's raid on a Boots outlet in Belfast.

Almost £120,000 (€176,000) was stolen from the store while the families of two staff members were held hostage by a gang of up to 10 people.

Jimmy Spratt, a former chairman of the North's Police Federation, claimed the PSNI's intelligence capabilities had been stripped in recent years, hampering the force's ability to prevent such robberies.

However, the PSNI has rejected his claims, saying the level of robberies in the North was down 24% in the past year, suggesting that intelligence was working well.