Policing Inspectorate report ‘an appalling indictment’ of Government

The PFNI Chair Liam Kelly says the report by the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in ‘a clear, unmistakable and appalling indictment’ of the failure of Government to properly fund and support the PSNI.

Mr Kelly said Stormont Ministers and Government Ministers should ‘hang their heads in shame’ at what can only be described as a deliberate run-down of the Service.

Mr Kelly said: “We’re hundreds of officers short in key departments and sections. Something has to give and it’s the level of service to the public, and the health and wellbeing of officers.

“Our colleagues are plugging gaps, doing the impossible, working too many hours to back-fill, are experiencing burnout and ill health and have their private lives upended.

“This report vindicates all we’ve been saying for years. We’re not scare-mongering when we say the Service is close to a tipping point. 

“The people to blame for starving the Service of the financial resources to do the job are devolved Ministers and indifferent Government Ministers at Westminster. They blame each other and all the time, our people are left to pick up the debris from the political impasse.

“This is a clear, unmistakable and appalling indictment of the Government which ignores this policing plight and the consequences of doing nothing to help.

“On the evidence presented so far, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a deliberate run-down of policing services in Northern Ireland. Collectively, Ministers should hang their heads in shame.

“Our operational capacity is undermined by budget reductions and the very worrying question marks over this year’s funding settlement. We’re heading into a uncharted waters and I fear that without urgent intervention by Government, we will witness further marked deterioration and decline.”