The leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been called on to use its influence “positively” to relieve the pressures on the policing budget in the North.
The call comes from Derry Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney, vice-chairperson of the Justice Committee, who was speaking after the appearance of Finance Minister Simon Hamilton before the Assembly Finance Committee.
Mr McCartney said while he agreed “wholeheartedly” with Mr Hamilton’s call for “more transparency around the pressures facing the policing budget, what was “obviously transparent” was the “unacceptable waste of millions of pounds” policing the illegal protest camp at Twaddell in Belfast and the “proliferation of marches” being organised by groups protesting the “democratic” decision by Belfast City Council on the flying of the Union Flag.
The cost of policing loyalist protests at the North Belfast flashpoint has topped £10 million.
Mr McCartney added: “Perhaps the Minister should focus his attention on those members of his own party who encourage and actually participate in this unacceptable drain on the policing budget and resources.
“If the Minister and his party colleagues would use their influence positively on this issue I have no doubt that it would go a long way towards relieving many of the pressures affecting the ability of the PSNI to deliver the effective community policing that we all signed up to.”
