PSNI seeking £76m more to combat dissident threat

Police in the North are seeking an extra £76m (€82.7m) from the UK government to help combat the increased threat from dissident republicans, the Chief Constable said today.

Hugh Orde told a Stormont Committee that officers need new armoured vehicles and a police helicopter, while plans to phase-out the full-time police reserve may have to be postponed.

As detectives continued to investigate the murder of two soldiers and a police officer by dissident groups opposed to the peace process, he also warned that reinvestigating the Troubles is taking vital resources away from frontline policing.

His comments came as a split emerged in the Human Rights Commission, when a member of the body objected to criticisms from Chief Commissioner Monica McWilliams over conditions faced by suspects for the recent killings who are being held in at Antrim police station.

Orde told the Assembly and Executive Review committee: “My current focus is on policing the present, policing the past is a significant drain on current police expenditure.

“And in the prevailing security situation there is a direct impact of any costs I cannot put into frontline policing.

“It is right to say that as result of the current increase in terrorist activity I have been to government and we are in discussions with government over additional significant funding over the next two years to enable us to continue to deliver an effective level of service against and commensurate and proportionate to that terrorist threat.”

The cost was put at an estimated £76m (€82.7m) over the next two years.

He said the security services were having success in tackling dissident crime and said the current investigations into the three recent murders were making progress.

“I am confident I think that we will make further progress, but they (investigations) are expensive and prisoners have to be looked after, quite properly, in accordance with all the relevant legislation and human rights principles which is also hugely expensive.”

Six people being questioned over the killings have launched a legal challenge to their period of detention.

Four are being questioned over the murders of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar, while two are being held in connection with the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.

Last night Human Rights Commission chief Professor McWilliams visited Antrim police station where they are being held and expressed concern over lengthy detentions in facilities designed for shorter stays.

But today commission member Jonathan Bell disassociated himself from the remarks.

“These comments must not be interpreted as the unanimous view of the Commission,” he said.

Orde told the committee he had given Professor McWilliams permission to visit the serious crime suite and would consider any concerns raised, but argued the facilities were of a high standard.

“It is one of the holding centres which would be seen as very much fit for purpose,” he said.

“If there are recommendations that would come out for refurbishment, that would be a very expensive operation.”