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Threatened officer 'in limbo' | Threatened officer 'in limbo' |
(31 minutes later) | |
A police officer and his wife claim to have been "left in limbo" after they were forced from their home by a dissident threat. | A police officer and his wife claim to have been "left in limbo" after they were forced from their home by a dissident threat. |
The couple believed that a government scheme would purchase the house from them. | The couple believed that a government scheme would purchase the house from them. |
The so-called SPED scheme buys property from people considered to be under threat. | The so-called SPED scheme buys property from people considered to be under threat. |
However, the couple have received a letter informing them that the scheme has run out of money. | However, the couple have received a letter informing them that the scheme has run out of money. |
The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents. | The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents. |
He and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance. | He and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance. |
However, the scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left. | However, the scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left. |
The family have been living in rented accommodation paid for by the PSNI, while continuing to pay the mortgage on their former home. | The family have been living in rented accommodation paid for by the PSNI, while continuing to pay the mortgage on their former home. |
Their time in the rented property is about to end. They were about to sign the paperwork on a new home but that now has to be put on hold. | Their time in the rented property is about to end. They were about to sign the paperwork on a new home but that now has to be put on hold. |
In over 30 years of service I have never encountered the utter heartlessness that the Federation is now witnessing Terry Spence - Police Federation Chairman | In over 30 years of service I have never encountered the utter heartlessness that the Federation is now witnessing Terry Spence - Police Federation Chairman |
In the intervening six months, the officer, who is in his his late 30s, has suffered a stroke, leaving him partially sighted | |
The police officer's wife, who did not wish to be identified, said she feels her family have been treated "in an appalling manner". | |
"I feel that we have been abandoned to our fate," she said. | |
"Basically we have been shoved somewhere out of the road and nobody wants to take responsibility, nobody wants to help. | |
"It happened obviously because a terrorist organisation decided that they wanted to make an impact on our lives. | |
"But we just feel that the government have done exactly the same thing again and they are the one who are voted in to protect us. | |
"They have just devastated our lives in the the same way as the terrorist organisation, by threatening my husband's life, devastated it." | |
The Police Federation has written to the Security Minister Paul Goggins, urging him to resolve the issue. | The Police Federation has written to the Security Minister Paul Goggins, urging him to resolve the issue. |
In the letter, Federation chairman, Terry Spence, wrote that if the SPED (Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings) scheme could not come up with the cash, the government had a clear duty to intervene. | In the letter, Federation chairman, Terry Spence, wrote that if the SPED (Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings) scheme could not come up with the cash, the government had a clear duty to intervene. |
"In over 30 years of service I have never encountered the utter heartlessness that the Federation is now witnessing," Mr Spence wrote. | "In over 30 years of service I have never encountered the utter heartlessness that the Federation is now witnessing," Mr Spence wrote. |
"There is no regard from the NIO that this officer is prepared to risk his life - as all police officers do in performing their duty on behalf of the community. | "There is no regard from the NIO that this officer is prepared to risk his life - as all police officers do in performing their duty on behalf of the community. |
"That appears to count for nothing should the officer's life be directly threatened with murder at home." | "That appears to count for nothing should the officer's life be directly threatened with murder at home." |
It's understood that last year the budget for SPED was £1.5m. | It's understood that last year the budget for SPED was £1.5m. |
However the Department of Social Development ended up spending £9.8m after more money was found through the end of year monitoring round where surplus cash is reallocated. | However the Department of Social Development ended up spending £9.8m after more money was found through the end of year monitoring round where surplus cash is reallocated. |
This year the budget is again £1.5m. So far, all of that has been committed and no extra cash has been found. | This year the budget is again £1.5m. So far, all of that has been committed and no extra cash has been found. |
Despite the budget having run out, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development said that "no lives would be put in danger". | Despite the budget having run out, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development said that "no lives would be put in danger". |
"There is a duty to re-house those under threat and the Housing Executive continues to provide that service," the spokesperson said. | "There is a duty to re-house those under threat and the Housing Executive continues to provide that service," the spokesperson said. |
"With regard to the SPED scheme, under which properties of those affected are purchased, it is well documented that there is a major shortfall in the housing budget. | "With regard to the SPED scheme, under which properties of those affected are purchased, it is well documented that there is a major shortfall in the housing budget. |
"The Housing Executive has to manage within these financial constraints but the Department will be seeking more funding for Housing Executive programs in the current budget monitoring round." | "The Housing Executive has to manage within these financial constraints but the Department will be seeking more funding for Housing Executive programs in the current budget monitoring round." |