Community Relations and Neighbourhood Policing: Northern Ireland
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to improve community policing and reduce sectarian tensions.
Answered by Northern Ireland Office
Policing in Northern Ireland, apart from national security, is a devolved matter. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to make decisions on the allocation of resources in line with its identified priorities, and for the Department of Justice to allocate funding to the PSNI.
In recognition of the security situation in Northern Ireland, the Government has increased the amount provided to the PSNI in Additional Security Funding to £37.8 million. This level of funding has been secured for each year of the Spending Review period. In addition, a further £4 million has been provided to PSNI for this financial year to help with the costs incurred by the PSNI during the recent disorder.
The UK Government also provides 50% of the funding for the cross Executive Programme for tackling paramilitary activity and organised crime - currently £8m per year. NIO Ministers meet regularly with Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government Ministers to discuss a range of priority issues in Northern Ireland, including public safety and community cohesion.
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