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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Board to hear police closure plan | Board to hear police closure plan |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Proposals to sell off 26 police stations in Northern Ireland are to be put to the Policing Board later. | Proposals to sell off 26 police stations in Northern Ireland are to be put to the Policing Board later. |
| Unionists are opposed to the move, claiming it could make it easier for dissident republicans to operate. Sinn Fein agrees with the closure plan. | Unionists are opposed to the move, claiming it could make it easier for dissident republicans to operate. Sinn Fein agrees with the closure plan. |
| The police say they do not have to get the board's approval because it is an operational matter. | The police say they do not have to get the board's approval because it is an operational matter. |
| However, the board is legally responsible for the buildings and could refuse the request to dispose of them. | However, the board is legally responsible for the buildings and could refuse the request to dispose of them. |
| Board chairman Barry Gilligan said: "Scarce resources is a reality of the financial world we live in right across the public sector. | |
| "We've got to ensure the resources we have are used as effectively and as efficiently as possible and that's the challenge. | |
| "It goes to the heart of what this board is about - we're charged with making sure the police service deliver an effective and efficient police service." | |
| There are 108 police stations across Northern Ireland, a figure which the police say is too high. | There are 108 police stations across Northern Ireland, a figure which the police say is too high. |
| Sixty-three percent only open on a part-time basis while at least 20 are regarded as effectively closed because they have not been used operationally for a number of years. | Sixty-three percent only open on a part-time basis while at least 20 are regarded as effectively closed because they have not been used operationally for a number of years. |
| href="/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8182622.stm">40 police stations face closure href="/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8182624.stm">Police stations which may close | |
| A major review of the police estate was launched four years ago and a number of stations have closed since then. | A major review of the police estate was launched four years ago and a number of stations have closed since then. |
| But the rate of closures is set to accelerate rapidly as the police seek to get rid of buildings which they say are costing millions of pounds in running costs while serving no useful policing purpose. | But the rate of closures is set to accelerate rapidly as the police seek to get rid of buildings which they say are costing millions of pounds in running costs while serving no useful policing purpose. |
| They say the money saved could be used to improve frontline policing, with more officers on the ground, and alternative, smaller facilities. | They say the money saved could be used to improve frontline policing, with more officers on the ground, and alternative, smaller facilities. |
| Unionist members of the Policing Board have signalled that they will oppose the plans. | Unionist members of the Policing Board have signalled that they will oppose the plans. |
| They argue that the move could make it impossible for the police to respond properly to criminal or terrorist incidents, and make it easier for dissident republicans to operate. | They argue that the move could make it impossible for the police to respond properly to criminal or terrorist incidents, and make it easier for dissident republicans to operate. |
| The DUP is particularly concerned about Fermanagh, where four of the 26 stations are located. | The DUP is particularly concerned about Fermanagh, where four of the 26 stations are located. |
| Sinn Fein Policing Board member Alex Maskey said many stations on the list were unwanted legacies of the past that "had become blots on the landscape". | Sinn Fein Policing Board member Alex Maskey said many stations on the list were unwanted legacies of the past that "had become blots on the landscape". |