Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA, says that given the latest budget cuts it is imperative that the National Crime Agency should be given full operational status in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.
Mr Elliott said:
“With £22 million being cut from the Justice Department`s budget in the June monitoring round, the police service will be operating under even greater financial strain than it was before. This is another reason why Sinn Fein and the SDLP need to stop holding the crime fighting ability of the PSNI and the people of Northern Ireland to ransom. They need to stop standing in the way of the National Crime Agency operating in Northern Ireland because of their sheer pig-headedness over the fact that the NCA operates on a UK wide basis.
“The latest budget cuts mean it is less likely that the PSNI can fill in the gaps left by the absence of the National Crime Agency.
“The SDLP and Sinn Fein need to get real about the importance of the National Crime Agency being given full operational powers in Northern Ireland. The need is more urgent than ever. It is imperative that this happens. The UN made clear in recent weeks that they are concerned that the children of Northern Ireland will not enjoy the same level of protection from exploitation as those in the rest of the UK.
“Criminals from here and throughout Europe will be delighted by the current stance of Sinn Fein and the SDLP.”