The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) has warned that the PSNI's Recovery Plan, aimed at rebuilding the force to 7,000 officers, has been "effectively shredded" due to a lack of funding from Stormont.

Speaking at the 53rd PFNI Annual Conference in Enniskillen, Liam Kelly, Chair of the Police Federation, accused Ministers of abandoning their duty to protect the public.

Mr Kelly stated that the Chief Constable's Recovery Plan was merely a starting point to rebuild the force, not an ultimate goal. He told delegates: "I take no pleasure in telling you today that the Recovery Plan has been effectively shredded. It will not be happening unless there's a last-minute re-think by the Executive." He revealed that the Department of Finance recently informed the Chief Constable it could not fund the plan.

"To say there is disappointment would be a gross under-statement. It would be more accurate to say this Federation is appalled by this decision. It is a slap in the face to our officers," Mr Kelly asserted. He called it an "abandonment by an elected administration whose solemn duty and responsibility it is to safeguard the entire population and give us the tools to combat crime and terrorism, stamp out a multi-million-pound drugs trade, deal with people traffickers, investigate cyber and make our roads safer."

Mr Kelly highlighted the discrepancy between current officer numbers and the recommended strength. "According to research conducted by Leapwise, we actually need up to 8,500 officers to reflect our rising population. Right now, we're at 6,224 officers which is 2,276 shy of that, and nobody in Government seems to care or give a damn." He criticised the financial allocation to policing, suggesting it is at the "back of the queue," leading to under-resourced officers and outdated equipment. He pointed to an inadequate PSNI budget, exacerbated by an increase in National Insurance and an initial £14 million deficit, resulting in a projected shortfall of £21 million. Mr Kelly condemned this as "yet further evidence of the scandalous disregard shown by both this devolved administration and the main 'paymaster' in London."

Mr Kelly revealed that the PSNI lost 427 officers last year, with 199 leaving due to ill health, 142 retiring, and 65 seeking alternative employment. He renewed his appeal to the Executive "to change course and recognise the desperate need for urgent positive intervention before there is any further shocking damage done to our police service." He contrasted this with planned increases in officer numbers and investment in England and Wales, noting that Neighbourhood Policing in Northern Ireland is in reverse, with a loss of 400 dedicated officers. "We're expected to be everywhere, do everything, avert, divert and problem solve with an operational deployable total of around 4,500 officers. Minister, it cannot be done. We are at breaking point. We need a lifeline."

In response to the rising number of assaults on officers, Mr Kelly announced a major multi-media awareness campaign launching next month. He stated that in the last year, there were 2,810 recorded assaults on police officers, with 881 resulting in injury. While this was a welcome 9.9% decrease from the previous year, he highlighted that over the last three years, there have been a staggering 9,415 assaults, with 2,826 causing injury.

Mr Kelly called for meaningful deterrents and a new approach from the courts, advocating for "strong minimum sentences and longer terms of imprisonment for more serious attacks on our men and women." He cited the success of heavier fines and longer custodial sentences in Malta, which saw a 67% decrease in violent offending against police officers between 2017 and 2024.

"It is deterrent sentencing and fines like these that we require in Northern Ireland. In fact, it is long overdue. A clear, strong, no-nonsense message has to go out, that the days of a verbal rebuke, a suspended sentence or a derisory fine are over," Mr Kelly concluded, reiterating the Federation's commitment to ensuring policing is a priority. "We are the glue that holds our society together and the sooner that fact is properly recognised by our politicians the better."