Debate contribution: Policing Resources

Debate contribution by Mr Keith Buchanan on 25 November 2025.

MLA: Mr Keith Buchanan
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 25 November 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Opposition Business
Heading: Policing Resources
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5259225

Text

We are united in our determination to build a Police Service of Northern Ireland that is open to every section of society. However, let us also be honest: the ombudsman's recent report makes harrowing reading. It lays bare the tragic consequences of under-resourcing our Police Service. A prolific abuser was able to operate online, and a young child lost her life. That failure must never be repeated. The PSNI cannot do that alone. It must work with the Executive, the Secretary of State, the National Crime Agency and others. However, collaboration without capacity is meaningless. Staffing remains a fundamental issue. Without sufficient officers and staff, the PSNI cannot meet public expectations. Recruitment must be based on merit. It must be based on ability, not religious background, gender or orientation. That principle is fundamental to fairness and public confidence. Whether it is for tackling violence against women and girls, as previously mentioned, and as stated in amendment No 2, safeguarding vulnerable people, fighting organised crime or maintaining community policing, we commend the Chief Constable's detailed workforce recovery plan for those things and others, but approval is not enough; funding must be delivered. Since the restoration of the Executive in 2024, police numbers have continued to decline. Chronic underfunding has real-world consequences. Crime becomes harder to tackle when officer numbers fall. The Chief Constable rightly took his concerns to the Prime Minister. As accounting officer, he is entitled — indeed, it could be argued that he is obliged — to seek resources at the highest level. The facts are stark. Between 2010 and 2022, police budgets in England and Wales rose by 20%. In Northern Ireland, the PSNI budget fell slightly and, in real terms, declined by 36% due to inflation. Despite the Northern Ireland block grant's growing since 2010, the police budget has dropped from £903 million to £892 million. That erosion of priority inevitably comes at a cost to services. The PSNI has statutory obligations to protect life and property, maintain law and order, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice. It also faces the ongoing threat from dissident republicans. Without adequate resources, those obligations cannot be met. We stand with the Chief Constable in his call for investment to rebuild officer numbers and secure a visible, accessible, community-focused service. Our officers put their lives at risk daily. They deserve not just gratitude but the resources to do their job properly. There is no time for delay. A fully staffed police force is in all our best interests. The Assembly must make that case with one voice.

427 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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