Resources must be made available to police if required: Storey

NORTH Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey has said it is vital additional resources are made available to police if required in light of recent security alerts across Northern Ireland.

The DUP man told the Times: “Recent events across the Province have shown that there are a small number of people who are intent on dragging Northern Ireland back to dark days we all hoped were left behind.

“During negotiations on the devolution of Policing and Justice the DUP ensured that an 800 million financial package was secured for policing.

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“This has not only protected front-line policing jobs but means that if further resources are required by the Chief Constable then they will be available.

“The deployment of resources is obviously an operational matter for the Chief Constable but we have been pressing to ensure that if extra resources are required then they will be available.

“This must be combined with an effort by everyone in the community to ensure that any information which could be of use is passed to the Police.

“We should not underestimate the threat posed by those who wish to drag us back, but I know that the vast majority of the community are determined to ensure that we continue to keep Northern Ireland moving forward.

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“Those intent on violence will not be allowed to get their way and the DUP has always been determined to ensure that any resources required by the police to tackle this threat should be available to them.”

A police spokesperson said: “PSNI Senior Command has had discussions with the Minister of Justice and the Policing Board about a number of options available to police to deal with the current security situation.

“He briefed the Policing Board on a number of measures being taken to deal with the current threat, and emphasised that policing with the community will not be compromised.

“The Policing Board said that they had been reassured by the plans outlined by the Chief Constable.

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“The last few months has seen a considerable escalation of terrorist activity as well as a continued determination to murder both police officers and members of the public.

“The Command Team is making every effort to ensure the resilience of frontline policing is maintained and although PSNI has more officers now on the streets that at any time since 2007, efforts are continuing to move more officers from non-operational police roles into front line service delivery.

“So far this year, police have arrested 65 people in relation to terrorist investigations and have charged 18, one more than in the whole of 2009.

“The Chief Constable has confirmed that police are considering the option of retaining the remainder of Full-Time Reserve officers for operational duties for a further nine months until they are phased out in March 2011.

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“Last year the he confirmed the phasing out of the Full Time Reserve, in line with a recommendation in the Patten Report, and subject to the prevailing security situation at the time.

“He always stated that he would keep that situation under review. But any decision by the PSNI will require additional funding, and we will explore the options for securing this.”

Chief Constable Matt Baggott, said: "I am confident that we can deal with the very real and serious security threat and still deliver personal professional policing in a way which our communities expect from us.

“The option to keep Full-Time Reserve officers is one of a number of options under consideration that would help us to achieve this objective.

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“But we also need support and information from the community, information that will prevent further attacks and information that will help us apprehend and convict these terrorists. People know who are involved in these attacks.

“We need these people to come forward and give the PSNI the support we require."