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Board to discuss £17m PSNI cuts £17m PSNI cuts 'are unacceptable'
(about 7 hours later)
The Policing Board will meet later in the wake of government demands to slash £17m from the police budget. Government demands to slash £17m from the police budget are unacceptable, the Policing Board chairman has said.
An internal PSNI report saying police are not providing an effective service and have lost sight of what's important to communities will also be discussed. Barry Gilligan said he had requested a meeting with Security Minister Paul Goggins to discuss the issue.
The report also said officers spend more than 60% of their time in stations doing paper work. The Policing Board is meeting for the first time since the departure of Sir Hugh Orde as chief constable.
It will be the first board meeting since the departure of Sir Hugh Orde as chief constable. An internal PSNI report saying police are not providing an effective service and have lost sight of what's important to communities is also being discussed.
The report said officers spend more than 60% of their time in stations doing paper work.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Gilligan said some tough choices lay ahead.
"Down the line, a local minister is going to have to make decisions as to whether we have 100 police officers, 100 teachers or 100 nurses, that is the real world and that is where we are heading," he said.
"There is not much in this report that hasn't been put to the PSNI by the board over recent years."
An incident at Meigh in south Armagh, when armed dissident republicans where seen operating an illegal checkpoint, is also thought to be on the agenda of the meeting.An incident at Meigh in south Armagh, when armed dissident republicans where seen operating an illegal checkpoint, is also thought to be on the agenda of the meeting.
CutsCuts
The NIO has said the £17m cut in the PSNI budget is needed as part of a government drive to save £5bn in the next financial year.The NIO has said the £17m cut in the PSNI budget is needed as part of a government drive to save £5bn in the next financial year.
However, 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.However, 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.
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.