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George Hamilton to spell out stark cuts to policing budget George Hamilton: Police budget cuts 'impossible'
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland's chief constable is expected to spell out the stark impact of cuts to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) budget later. Northern Ireland's chief constable has said budget cuts are forcing his organisation into a virtually impossible position.
George Hamilton will issue the warning during a meeting of the Policing Board on Thursday. George Hamilton said cuts to the Police Service of Northern Ireland budget would "fundamentally change how and where policing is delivered".
It comes after news of cutbacks delaying Police Ombudsman investigations into allegations of serious crime by the police. Cutbacks are delaying Police Ombudsman investigations into allegations of serious crime by the police.
The PSNI is also closing more than 300 temporary agency posts.The PSNI is also closing more than 300 temporary agency posts.
The cuts will "effectively mean the closure" of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), which investigates Troubles-era killings.The cuts will "effectively mean the closure" of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), which investigates Troubles-era killings.
The Policing Board meeting will be streamed live on the BBC News NI website from 15:00 BST on Thursday. Mr Hamilton told the board on Thursday: "Since I have been appointed (less than 100 days ago), I have been asked to deliver a 1.5% budget cut, then to plan for 3%, 4%, and 5% cuts, and then two weeks ago cuts of 7% in year were imposed.
"Aside from the scale of these cuts, the constantly changing picture makes planning how to make the savings unfeasible.
"Charged with responsibility for the protection of our community, I feel my organisation is being forced into a virtually impossible position."
Mr Hamilton said he had notified the permanent secretary at the Department of Justice that at this point he is "unable to provide full assurance" that the PSNI can "deliver the required budget reductions and live within the revised budget".
"The level of cuts required will fundamentally change how and where policing is delivered in Northern Ireland. This change in policing will be seen and felt by the community," he said.
"The PSNI will be a smaller organisation - we will have less police officers; our ability to deliver will be reduced; and there will be harder choices as policing has to prioritise where to focus its efforts."