‘Difficult choices’ required amid ‘bleak’ budget outlook, warns chief constable

Simon Byrne told the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) on Thursday (June 1) that a reduction on overtime and the potential grounding of one of the force’s three helicopters were also being considered.

Police station opening hours will also be reviewed together with a “slowing down” of estate and fleet repairs, he said.

Mr Byrne, whose contract as chief constable has been extended by three years, said a 90-day review of proposed cutbacks is now under way.

He said the budgetary outlook this year “is bleak”, adding: “The gap between our resource requirement and the budget provided remains stark and will present a tension between my duties under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 and my responsibilities as an accounting officer.

“I must exhaust all means to live within the finances I have been allocated.”

In anticipation of a tough budgetary settlement, Mr Byrne said they have already paused recruitment from June, curtailed spending and reduced other costs.

“However, even with these actions, we still face a remaining gap of £43 million and we have been asked to take steps to live within our budget and assume no further funding,” he said.

“Quite how we realistically address this gap at the moment is unclear given the wider cost savings we have already agreed or introduced.

“The reality is that this funding will lead to cuts in resources and directly impact the frontline services to communities. We are working through how best to deliver cost savings and reshape our service models for delivering on behalf of communities.

“At this point, it is extremely difficult to see how costs can be maintained within this budget at the same time as keeping people safe. Difficult choices will now be required.”

Mr Byrne said the 90-day review process will consider a number of themes to reshape the PSNI’s operating model to reflect a shrinking budget.

These include contact management, response policing, neighbourhood policing and demand from third parties such as the Health Service, which leads to costs for policing.

“This will begin with using our new Service Management Statement to baseline demand and allow new models for operation to be developed and agreed over the coming months,” said Mr Byrne.

“Central to this work will be seeking to maximise the productivity benefits we can extract from IT and leveraging opportunities from estate asset management.”

However, Mr Byrne reaffirmed his commitment to neighbourhood policing.

“We believe to stop this work would, ironically, be a withdrawal from communities that need us the most and that is not a position we feel we can accept,” he said.

“To do this, in face of the budget we have received, will be an immense challenge, but we are resolved to exhaust every means to try and preserve the function.

“This will likely mean a smaller footprint but we will do all in our power to maintain the gains in legitimacy and public trust that neighbourhood policing has secured, and still offer universal service across the country.

“Clearly, a process of this scale and significance requires appropriate governance and resource to deliver on our decisions and to realise the cost reductions identified.

“The board are, I know, deeply concerned about the impact of the budget shortfall upon policing and the communities we serve.

“While this work has been taking shape the demands of operational policing have continued at pace, with the threat from dissident Republican terrorists continuing to disrupt community life in “a reckless and unacceptable way”.

“Finally, whilst we collectively wrestle with the pressing challenge of our reduced budget and its impact on our service, it is worth taking a moment to consider the published crime and anti-social behaviour statistics for Northern Ireland to remind ourselves what policing can deliver.

“Northern Ireland remains the safest place to live in the UK,;in 2022 there were 57.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 people compared to an average of 93.8 per 1,000 in England and Wales. This reaffirms to me the incredibly powerful and positive influence policing has upon the safety and security of the citizens of Northern Ireland.”

Mr Byrne’s three-year contract extension was approved by the Department of Justice after being agreed unanimously agreed by the NIPB.

NIPB chair, Deirdre Toner said: “In agreeing this extension, the board wanted to bring certainty and ensure continuity of leadership for the Police Service.

“The chief constable will be responsible for developing new plans to support the delivery of policing going forward and leading the organisation through future challenges faced.

“We look forward to continuing to work with him in the time ahead.”

Mr Byrne, 60, arrived in Northern Ireland in July 2019 on a five-year deal.

His contract will be extended from July 1, 2024 up to July 1, 2027, by which point he would become the PSNI’s longest-serving chief constable.