A £24.5 million (€28 million) deficit in the PSNI budget is to be plugged, the government announced today.
Struggling to manage a £130 million cut in its three-year funding allocation, the PSNI had faced the prospect of shedding civilian jobs in a bid to balance its books this year.
The Policing Board - the PSNI’s independent scrutiny body - last month rejected Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde’s budget over fears front line services would be affected.
The government has not provided extra money, but it is permitting the police to draw down money from its 2009/2010 budget to tackle the current crisis.
The PSNI reviewed its budget and identified more than £15 million of spending commitments that could be deferred to next year. This included planned infrastructure developments and projects to modernise IT systems. In return, the Government pledged to meet the remaining £9.1 million shortfall.
The deal follows talks between security minister Paul Goggins and the Policing Board today.
Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea said that while the budget had been balanced for 08/09 there would still be an impact on the service. “The challenge remains to deal with the historical funding issues, which are placing an unsustainable burden on the budget.”
The PSNI is also facing an estimated legal bill of £87 million because officers weren’t offered adequate ear protection during firearms training in the Troubles era.
It had already agree to provide £1.4 million to fill a deficit facing the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Unit, which was set up to investigate murders during the Troubles.
PA