PM pledges to fight dissidents
Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the PSNI will have adequate funding to fight the threat from dissident terrorists.
The UK Government is currently considering a bid from PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott to supplement the region’s police budget over the next four years in order to deal with the threat, which remains “severe”.
Responding to a question in the Commons from DUP MP David Simpson, Mr Cameron said:
“I have met with the chief constable on several times since I became Prime Minister. He came to the meeting of the National Security Council where we discussed the security level in Northern Ireland. We will do what is necessary to make sure the security and police and everything else is properly funded.
“I have to say that it’s right now that these issues are devolved that there is greater decision and greater efforts in the frontline in Northern Ireland but, of course, we will always stand by to help if necessary.”
Mr Simpson said: “People should be in no doubt that if the dissident terrorist threat is not stamped out now it will become a UK-wide problem. This is no mere localised problem, this is a matter of national security.”
Justice minister David Ford has backed the bid for more money from the Contingency Fund to deal with the threat.
Earlier this week he said: “If that were not made available, then the entire budget for the Department of Justice would be in major jeopardy and I believe it would be an indication of serious difficulty, frankly, for the entire process of the devolution of policing and justice.”
