“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.

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