Dissident threat may delay scrapping of police reserve

The North's chief constable Matt Baggott may delay scrapping the police full-time reserve because of the escalating threat from dissident republicans, it was revealed today.

More than 200 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers due to begin resettlement training in June could be asked to stay on for nine months.

Mr Baggott said in November he would press ahead with plans to phase out the full-time reserve by March next year.

Since then there have been a dissident republican attack on a Catholic officer in Co Antrim and car bombs in Newry, Co Down, and Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh.

Part of the Reserve severance package included a nine-month resettlement training programme to help them find new jobs. Keeping the officers on would cost around £6m (€6.9m).

Some 100 officers are taking part in that programme and the final 227 members of the reserve are due to join it in June to prepare them for losing their jobs in March next year.

The chief constable may ask them to defer their training for nine months and remain on duty until next March.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “The last few months has seen a considerable escalation of terrorist activity as well as a continued determination to murder both police officers and members of the public.

“As a police service, we continually monitor our response to attacks and review our capabilities to disrupt the activities of these groupings.

“In light of the current threat level, we have been examining a number of options to ensure we have the right resources in the right areas to deal with these terrorists.

“The Minister of Justice (David Ford) and Policing Board members have been fully briefed on the options being considered.”