Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Chief Constable on police funding.

I and my Ministers meet regularly with the PSNI to discuss a range of issues, in recognition of the Government’s commitment to the safety and security of the people of Northern Ireland. I most recently met the Chief Constable on his second day in office to emphasise my support for the PSNI and my confidence in its new leadership.

Policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the PSNI’s main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland block grant.

We also provide the PSNI with £32 million in additional security funding to address the SEVERE threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. This ensures PSNI’s ability to tackle the terrorist threat while ensuring day-to-day policing is not compromised.