Northern Ireland

PSNI seeks funds for 300 more officers ahead of Brexit

PSNI chief constable George Hamilton
PSNI chief constable George Hamilton PSNI chief constable George Hamilton

THE PSNI is to ask the British government to fund the recruitment of at least 300 extra officers for border operations post-Brexit.

Chief Constable George Hamilton confirmed police are currently drawing up a business case which will include a bid for new vehicles and other equipment.

He said the proposal was to ensure the force is "match fit" for the UK leaving the European Union, with additional officers needed to help support other government agencies.

It comes after it emerged last month the PSNI was delaying the sale of a disused station in Warrenpoint as a result of Brexit uncertainty.

It is understood plans to sell former stations in Aughnacloy and Castlederg have also been delayed, the BBC reported yesterday.

Mr Hamilton said significant uplifts in staffing numbers in partner organisations such as HMRC and Border Force would require deployment of police officers to ensure the safety of officials.

"I am pretty sure it will require an uplift and there will be a strong evidence base for that," he said.

Meanwhile, a Co Donegal-based Garda has called for submachine guns to be made available to border officers to combat roaming criminal gangs and dissident republicans.

Brendan O’Connor told the Garda Representative Association conference in Wexford that criminals and “people of a political persuasion” do not take border gardaí seriously.

“They don’t see us has having the capabilities to take them on. They see us as weak. They see us as we see ourselves - untrained, ill-equipped and not enough numbers,” he said.