DUP MP Ian Paisley says policing in Northern Ireland is being asked to be done 'on the cheap'
Policing in Northern Ireland is being asked to be done "on the cheap", a DUP MP has claimed during a debate at Westminster.
Ian Paisley raised the issue of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's budget, which is facing a £226m shortfall between this year and 2025.It will leave the service with 6,700 officers - the lowest number in its 21-year history. Mr Paisley said: "The issues our officers have to tackle are completely unique … with a hangover of policing the past as well as trying to cope with the present.Ian Paisley was speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening
The North Antrim MP also highlighted the issue of low pay among new recruits, with a growing number of officers taking on second jobs."We have got to make sure it is addressed with a much sharper answer than 'well, if you had an executive back to handle these things it could be sorted out.'Responding, Home Office minister Chris Philp said officer salaries in Northern Ireland are similar to those in England and Wales.
Mr Philp also said that on top of the PSNI budget allocated by the Department of Justice, the Northern Ireland Office provided it with around £40m a year to tackle terrorism and paramilitarism.
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