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Police cuts 'hit dissident fight' Police cuts 'hit dissident fight'
(about 1 hour later)
Cutbacks are undermining the ability of police to tackle dissident republicans, the Police Federation has said.Cutbacks are undermining the ability of police to tackle dissident republicans, the Police Federation has said.
Terry Spence, the chairman of the body which represents rank and file officers, said the PSNI was "dangerously under-resourced".Terry Spence, the chairman of the body which represents rank and file officers, said the PSNI was "dangerously under-resourced".
He said at least 420 "viable devices" had been found in 750 security alerts caused by dissidents in Northern Ireland over the last two years.He said at least 420 "viable devices" had been found in 750 security alerts caused by dissidents in Northern Ireland over the last two years.
The government has demanded the PSNI cuts £17m from its budget.The government has demanded the PSNI cuts £17m from its budget.
"In the determination to close the book on Northern Ireland as a political and security nightmare the PSNI has been dangerously under-resourced," he told the federation's annual conference in Belfast."In the determination to close the book on Northern Ireland as a political and security nightmare the PSNI has been dangerously under-resourced," he told the federation's annual conference in Belfast.
"Despite the deteriorating security situation we still have not faced up to the severity of the threat from dissidents.""Despite the deteriorating security situation we still have not faced up to the severity of the threat from dissidents."
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott believes the threat is being taken very seriouslyPSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott believes the threat is being taken very seriously
New PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Security Minister Paul Goggins were among guests invited to the La Mon House hotel in Belfast to hear Mr Spence's address.New PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Security Minister Paul Goggins were among guests invited to the La Mon House hotel in Belfast to hear Mr Spence's address.
Mr Baggott said he believed the dissident threat was being taken very seriously.Mr Baggott said he believed the dissident threat was being taken very seriously.
"Everything I've seen since being appointed and before being appointed in the last few days is that the threat is being taken very seriously indeed," he said."Everything I've seen since being appointed and before being appointed in the last few days is that the threat is being taken very seriously indeed," he said.
'Dinosaurs''Dinosaurs'
There has been an increase in dissident republican activity and police are currently running Operation Descent, aimed at disrupting any potential attack.There has been an increase in dissident republican activity and police are currently running Operation Descent, aimed at disrupting any potential attack.
Mr Spence described the dissidents as "murderous dinosaurs" who were determined to kill police and soldiers "or anyone associated with them in any way".Mr Spence described the dissidents as "murderous dinosaurs" who were determined to kill police and soldiers "or anyone associated with them in any way".
He also criticised the recent decisions to axe the 500-strong Full Time Reserve police and sell 26 stations to private developers.He also criticised the recent decisions to axe the 500-strong Full Time Reserve police and sell 26 stations to private developers.
"We are still in a period when the political future is uncertain, when the terrorist threat is growing rather than diminishing, when loyalist decommissioning looks promising but is incomplete, and when public order is easily broken," he said."We are still in a period when the political future is uncertain, when the terrorist threat is growing rather than diminishing, when loyalist decommissioning looks promising but is incomplete, and when public order is easily broken," he said.
"Yet the government still sees fit to permit the dismantling of our policing defences.""Yet the government still sees fit to permit the dismantling of our policing defences."