SAOIRSE32

News Letter
06 November 2009

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott yesterday said he was happy with the £1 billion financial package secured for the devolution of policing powers and was ready and willing for the move to go ahead.

Mr Baggott said the deal tabled by Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave him the ability to deliver effective community policing secure in the knowledge that outstanding bills facing the PSNI had been dealt with.

His backing for the cash offer came hours after another potential stumbling block appeared on the road towards devolving law and order responsibilities to Stormont, when the party earmarked for the new Justice Ministry said it would not accept the post until a strategy to tackle segregation north of the border was approved.

The Alliance Party said progress on transferring the powers from Westminster would not be possible until the Sinn Fein/DUP coalition tabled its long-delayed Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI) document.

Mr Baggott told the Policing Board he was satisfied that the finances were in place if the move was given the green light.

He said from a professional perspective he would welcome devolution as it would enhance local accountability and decision making.

“I do believe that devolution is a step towards a safer, securer and more peaceful Northern Ireland,” he said.

The Chief Constable said the complex financial package addressed the “big ticket” issues that had been looming over the PSNI - such as the potentially massive compensation payout for former officers claiming damages for hearing loss sustained in firearms training and an estimated £100 million pressure on the police pensions scheme.

New direct access to Treasury funds to deal with any further escalation in the threat posed by dissident republicans was also an important aspect, he told the board’s monthly meeting in Belfast.

“I do welcome the clarity and certainty of the financial package which of course is predicated against devolution,” he said.

“It enables me to deal with the historical issues of the past such as the pension issues and hearing loss claims - whilst having an operational budget with sufficient flexibility and access to the security fund to take forward the ambitions of the Policing Board into the future.”

The lack of financial settlement has been seen as one of the last obstacles in the way of devolution with the DUP insisting they would only give their support if No 10 stumped up the cash required.

While First Minister Peter Robinson has now accepted the cash offer, he has made clear other confidence-building measures are required before he gives his backing.

Alliance party member Anna Lo indicated that her party would not fill the Justice Ministry until the CSI was dealt with.

Ms Lo said she and her colleagues needed to see action before they came on board in regard to policing devolution.

Alliance has also made clear that its cooperation will not come without progress on segregation - which it claims costs Northern Ireland £1 billion a year.

“It would be nearly impossible for progress to be made on issues such as policing and justice if we don’t have a shared future strategy agreed urgently,” Ms Lo said.

She added: “We often hear of big ticket issues at Stormont. Well, these are not just big ticket, they are matters that, if left ignored, will continue to be big bill issues for Northern Ireland.

“The Executive cannot afford to duck these issues any longer. We are in the teeth of a financial crisis and addressing the cash wasted on maintaining division is the best way to safeguard vital frontline health services in the future.”