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Board asked to cut £17m from PSNI PSNI is asked to make £17m cuts
(about 3 hours later)
The Policing Board has reacted angrily to a government demand to cut £17m from the PSNI budget next year.The Policing Board has reacted angrily to a government demand to cut £17m from the PSNI budget next year.
The board said the cuts will mean fewer officers on the ground, when police say they need to improve frontline services and get more officers on the streets.The board said the cuts will mean fewer officers on the ground, when police say they need to improve frontline services and get more officers on the streets.
The NIO has said the cuts are needed as part of a government drive to save £5bn in the next financial year.The NIO has said the cuts are needed as part of a government drive to save £5bn in the next financial year.
Members of the board have been angered by the content and tone of an NIO letter requesting the savings.Members of the board have been angered by the content and tone of an NIO letter requesting the savings.
The letter said: "If we cannot achieve our target then the business performance review team will be asked to review budgets... and recommend ways of securing the required savings."The letter said: "If we cannot achieve our target then the business performance review team will be asked to review budgets... and recommend ways of securing the required savings."
Policing Board members have said this suggests government accountants will tell the police how to save money.Policing Board members have said this suggests government accountants will tell the police how to save money.
The NIO has insisted that its letter is not an ultimatum and said the PSNI is not being singled out.The NIO has insisted that its letter is not an ultimatum and said the PSNI is not being singled out.
In a statement, it said the government "will not tell the PSNI how to make its savings and said it was wrong to suggest the NIO would make the changes ourselves if the PSNI does not".In a statement, it said the government "will not tell the PSNI how to make its savings and said it was wrong to suggest the NIO would make the changes ourselves if the PSNI does not".
Internal reportInternal report
BBC Newsline last week revealed that an internal PSNI report said it was failing to deliver an effective service, with officers spending more than 60% of their time in police stations because of red tape and paperwork.BBC Newsline last week revealed that an internal PSNI report said it was failing to deliver an effective service, with officers spending more than 60% of their time in police stations because of red tape and paperwork.
The Policing Board has warned that the situation could now get worse because of government demands for cutbacks.The Policing Board has warned that the situation could now get worse because of government demands for cutbacks.
The PSNI has an annual budget of £1.2bn, but only £170m of that is flexible, meaning the chief constable can decide how the money is spent.The PSNI has an annual budget of £1.2bn, but only £170m of that is flexible, meaning the chief constable can decide how the money is spent.
Police sources have told the BBC that under the current funding arrangements, the only way they could make the £17m savings demanded by the government would be to reduce the numbers of officers on the ground, and that would have serious implications for frontline policing services.Police sources have told the BBC that under the current funding arrangements, the only way they could make the £17m savings demanded by the government would be to reduce the numbers of officers on the ground, and that would have serious implications for frontline policing services.
Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Basil McCrea said he was concerned by the proposed cut.Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Basil McCrea said he was concerned by the proposed cut.
"It would appear to me that the police budget is in crisis," he said."It would appear to me that the police budget is in crisis," he said.
"This further £17m cut will no doubt come as a further blow to the PSNI at a time of increased financial constraints.""This further £17m cut will no doubt come as a further blow to the PSNI at a time of increased financial constraints."
Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said cuts should not affect frontline policing.
"Clearly the board is aware of the need to be financially prudent, the board is also aware of the high cost of delivering policing here," he said.
"If there are savings which can be made, we as a board will not be found wanting in trying to secure those efficiency savings, but we're not interested in delivering cuts to frontline policing."