Ulster Unionist Member of the Policing Board Ross Hussey has warned the PSNI that reductions in station enquiry opening times, as well as changes to custody suite arrangements, must not lead to officers spending less time on active duty.
The Ulster Unionist MLA said:
“The Executive’s 2011-15 Budget essentially fell apart this year. Most Departments were asked to make huge in-year cuts in order to provide emergency funding to prevent essential services from collapsing. Regrettably, because of the current fragmented budgetary position, the PSNI has been asked to deliver savings of almost £40m in the year up until 31 March 2015. The collapse of the current budget put the PSNI, like so many of our other key public services, in an untenable situation.
“The PSNI has now decided to reduce public opening hours at all Station Enquiry Offices across Northern Ireland to a maximum of 12 hours each day. In addition it has also announced that there will be savings made through reducing the numbers of Civilian Detention Officers, redeploying PSNI Custody Officers and also reducing police overtime.
“Whilst I do appreciate the PSNI have been forced into making major savings, I do have concerns that their proposals will have a knock-on impact on frontline policing. Following this decision the only two permanently accessible police stations in the whole country will be Musgrave station in Belfast and Strand Road in Londonderry.
“I am also concerned that there may still be further reductions to Station Enquiry opening times. Given most of the Enquiry Officers working across Northern Ireland are civilians, I suspect that they too will be considered an option for further savings. I would urge the PSNI to show caution in this respect however as the entire point of bringing in civilian Station Enquiry Officers was to free up officers to return to response duty.
“Nevertheless given over 80% of PSNI costs are tied up in staff and officer salaries, it may only be a matter of time before it has no choice but to reduce personnel in order to deliver further savings.
“I will now be seeking reassurances from the senior Officers in the PSNI that these latest cuts, and any more that they may be considering, will not result in a downgrading of frontline policing.”