The PSNI’s Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is being criticised by a senior civil servant at the Department of Justice, for making a direct plea to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, for extra funding.
It was after the Prime Minister visited Northern Ireland following the injury of a number of police officers during in riots in Derry and Belfast.
The permanent secretary Hugh Widdis says requests for further government funding should only be made by Stormont’s Department of Finance following engagement with the Department of Justice.
Here’s the police federation’s Liam Kelly:
