Northern Ireland's flashpoint loyalist marching season cost £18 million to police this year, it emerged today.
Chief Constable Hugh Orde revealed the cost of keeping sectarian factions apart over a six-week period this summer as he was questioned by his policing board in Belfast.
More than £6.5 million went on putting officers and equipment along the route of highly charged band parades.
The rest was ploughed into policing the sectarian peace lines and general law and order duties from June 1 to July 15, Mr Orde confirmed.
He insisted that even if the marches passed off trouble-free it did not mean he could let up in future.
The chief constable said: "Just because a parade doesn't break down into disorder this year does not determine the level of policing for next year."
Breaking the figures down, he said just over £10million was spent on the Greater Belfast area while around £3.5million went towards the police service of Northern Ireland's north and south regions each.
PA
