Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Jon Boutcher, attended the Police Federation of Northern Ireland Annual Conference, describing it as an important platform to engage with personnel regarding the day-to-day difficulties encountered by the workforce.

The Chief Constable expressed satisfaction that the Minister attended the event to hear directly from the Federation about the operational impacts stemming from ongoing resource shortages.

Mr Boutcher pointed out that despite positive signs of political backing for the police service, the PSNI remains stuck in a volatile financial state due to structural underfunding. Moving into the second month of the new financial period, the service is still operating without an agreed budget. It currently faces estimated shortfalls of approximately £57 million, £92 million, and £149 million over the course of the next three years. Furthermore, dealing with legacy cases costs the local police service £24 million annually. The Chief Constable argued that drawing this funding from the core budget is fundamentally incorrect, as these resources should be directed towards modern policing demands, including boosting neighbourhood officer numbers, tackling narcotics, disrupting organised crime networks, and combating violence against women and girls.

According to Mr Boutcher, the consequences of this underfunding are being felt directly by PSNI staff, officers, and local communities who depend on the service to protect them against sophisticated criminal networks.

The Chief Constable emphasised that the inherent dangers of the profession are heightened by a persistent threat of violence from a minor group of dissident republican cowards who fail to accept that Northern Ireland has progressed. He also drew attention to the routine hostility officers face, noting that vehicle-rammings, biting, spitting, and physical assaults have become normalised and must be actively countered.

During the conference, Mr Boutcher praised his colleagues for their dedication in the face of ongoing hostility. He stated his intention to use the 25th anniversary of the PSNI's establishment to renew societal and political backing for the service, adding that this support must be absolute across all parts of community life. He acknowledged that while errors are sometimes made, the service remains committed to learning and refining its methods.

In closing, the Chief Constable affirmed that the PSNI leadership team and the Police Federation remain unified in their efforts to assist officers as they protect communities and support victims throughout the country.