PSNI Underfunding Crippling Services – Warns Chief Operating Officer

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is facing a crisis due to significant underfunding since 2010, its Chief Operating Officer, Pamela McCreedy, warned MPs today.

Testifying before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, McCreedy detailed the consequences of budget cuts, including a decline in police officer and staff numbers, impacting both crime victims and community safety.

"Since 2010, the PSNI's budget has reduced by 3%, while Health spending has increased by almost 90%," McCreedy stated.

This underfunding has resulted in:

• Reduced Neighbourhood Policing: The number of Neighbourhood officers has fallen by 305 since 2014, with 79 fewer officers compared to 12 months ago. This has necessitated the amalgamation of Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the discontinuation of 16-hour daily coverage.

• Slower Crime Investigations: Reduced investigative capacity has led to slower investigations, impacting victims and delaying the criminal justice system.

• Reduced Public Accessibility: The closure of 11 station enquiry offices last year has diminished police visibility and accessibility for the public. To address this decline, the PSNI has submitted a Recovery Plan to the Department of Justice, aiming to increase officer and staff numbers to 7,000 and 2,572 respectively over the next three years. A new recruitment campaign for student officers is also underway.

"This is an important first step, but the additional cost is estimated at around £200 million over a five-year period and will require additional funding from the Northern Ireland Executive," McCreedy emphasised.

The Chief Operating Officer also highlighted the strain placed on PSNI resources by health and mental health-related calls.

"PSNI has become the emergency service of first and last resort," McCreedy noted. "During a recent four-week period, the average waiting time for PSNI officers with a member of the public while awaiting a mental health assessment in Emergency Departments was nearly 14 hours."

Speaking afterwards Chief Operating Officer McCreedy said "Policing is absolutely crucial in Northern Ireland and it is crucial that a sufficient and more sustainable funding settlement is achieved for policing in Northern Ireland if we are to deliver for the community in Northern Ireland."