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| NI budget: Warning of 'severe' cuts to police, prisons and probation | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has warned that proposed cuts to its budget will have a "severely detrimental impact" on policing. | Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has warned that proposed cuts to its budget will have a "severely detrimental impact" on policing. |
| It also said it would affect Troubles investigations, prisons, and result in fewer probation officers, reducing "the ability to monitor offenders". | It also said it would affect Troubles investigations, prisons, and result in fewer probation officers, reducing "the ability to monitor offenders". |
| David Ford is the latest minister to lay out plans for how his department will deal with the 2015/16 budget cuts. | David Ford is the latest minister to lay out plans for how his department will deal with the 2015/16 budget cuts. |
| The plans show that the department will have to make total cuts of 6%. | The plans show that the department will have to make total cuts of 6%. |
| 'Frontline policing' | 'Frontline policing' |
| Several justice agencies are facing significant budget reductions and the department said it would affect their ability to provide services. | Several justice agencies are facing significant budget reductions and the department said it would affect their ability to provide services. |
| The details of the proposed cuts were outlined in a public consultation document published on the Department of Justice (DOJ) website. | The details of the proposed cuts were outlined in a public consultation document published on the Department of Justice (DOJ) website. |
| The document stated that one of the DOJ's key priorities was the protection of frontline policing "as far as possible". | The document stated that one of the DOJ's key priorities was the protection of frontline policing "as far as possible". |
| However, as it assessed the likely impact of the savings it has been asked to make, the department warned: "Cuts will have a severely detrimental impact on police presence, resilience and capacity (both police officers and police staff). | However, as it assessed the likely impact of the savings it has been asked to make, the department warned: "Cuts will have a severely detrimental impact on police presence, resilience and capacity (both police officers and police staff). |
| "This will likely result in the return to desk jobs of many officers who had been moved to frontline policing duties." | "This will likely result in the return to desk jobs of many officers who had been moved to frontline policing duties." |
| The DOJ also said that the budget reduction would affect existing PSNI staffing levels as well as future recruitment. | The DOJ also said that the budget reduction would affect existing PSNI staffing levels as well as future recruitment. |
| It warned there would be a "significant impact" on community policing, combating serious crime and legacy investigations. | It warned there would be a "significant impact" on community policing, combating serious crime and legacy investigations. |
| 'Emergency situations' | 'Emergency situations' |
| The consultation document said the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) was "currently operating with a deficit of probation officers" but would face further staff cuts if the budget plan is agreed. | The consultation document said the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) was "currently operating with a deficit of probation officers" but would face further staff cuts if the budget plan is agreed. |
| "PBNI has indicated that there will be a reduction in out-of-hours services, reducing the ability to deal with emergency situations," it added. | "PBNI has indicated that there will be a reduction in out-of-hours services, reducing the ability to deal with emergency situations," it added. |
| The Northern Ireland Executive as a whole is facing significant reductions in public spending, following a 1.6% cut to the block grant it receives from Westminster. | The Northern Ireland Executive as a whole is facing significant reductions in public spending, following a 1.6% cut to the block grant it receives from Westminster. |
| Within the past few weeks, ministers have warned that thousands of public sector jobs are under threat as they attempt to balance their departmental budgets. | Within the past few weeks, ministers have warned that thousands of public sector jobs are under threat as they attempt to balance their departmental budgets. |
| Many public services are also facing cutbacks, including hospitals, schools, public transport, road repairs, flooding compensation schemes, libraries and museums. | Many public services are also facing cutbacks, including hospitals, schools, public transport, road repairs, flooding compensation schemes, libraries and museums. |
| The DOJ has requested that members of the public respond to its budget consultation no later than 29 December 2014. | The DOJ has requested that members of the public respond to its budget consultation no later than 29 December 2014. |