“Our plan at the minute is to take the pressure everywhere but from recruiting.”
The anticipated compensation payments might be considered to be legacy issues, but the £24.5million shortfall in the PSNI budget, which Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, has a legal obligation to balance, is a result of this year’s operational decisions. Still, with the politicians’ imperative the further delaying of water charges [until after the next election? - Ed] – apparently achieved by central government agreeing to waive charges due to be paid by the devolved administration – the Policing Board have voted to reject the Chief Constable’s planned cost savings and will instead lobby the current Justice Minister at the NIO.
Oh well, it beats having to take a decision