Patterson Makes NI Security Pledge

Economic problems won't hit the safety and security of the people of NI.

That's a fresh pledge from the NIO Secretary of State, Owen Paterson who yesterday said that the Westminster Government would continue to stand by Northern Ireland through the severely challenging economic circumstances inherited by his Government.

Speaking at the launch of 'Policing The Narrow Ground' a book which reflects on policing in Northern Ireland ten years on from the Patten Report, Mr Paterson said: "The creation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the other policing institutions - notably the Policing Board - was not only one of the great achievements of the political process it was central to that process taking root and growing.

"We all face the challenge of reducing the huge financial deficit that we inherited and we have to bear down on the small but dangerous groups who threaten the whole community.

"We don't underestimate the threat they pose. But working together we will never allow them to succeed," he said.

Just hours before a major arms find in the Irish Republic and arrests of dissident IRA suspects in Co Tyrone, he said: "Co-operation between the British and Irish Governments, the local Justice Minister, the PSNI and the Gardaí, is at its best ever.

"As David Cameron made clear last week, we'll tackle these criminals with every means at our disposal," he said.

Pointing to next week's Comprehensive Spending Review which will cut hard into budgets across the UK he continued: "We've stood by the £800m funding package agreed by the previous government and already since the election we've secured an additional £12m from the reserve.

"The Government will not take risks with the economy or the safety and security of the people," he insisted and went on to say that it was important that everyone understood the context in which the Spending Review was taking place.

"The seriousness of the economic position we are all in cannot be overestimated.

"Anyone who suggests that the huge deficit built up over the last decade or more can be reduced at a leisurely pace is deluding themselves and misleading everyone else.

"We simply cannot go on borrowing £270,000 a minute or pay £43bn a year in debt interest."

See: 'Dissident' Weapons Raid Sees Four Arrests

See: : Martin Visit To Mark Patten Anniversary

(BMcC/KMcA)