Latest news with #JonBoutcher
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
PSNI: Stormont can't fund recruitment plan federation claims
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has been told Stormont cannot find the money for a £200m plan to increase officer numbers, the Police Federation has at a conference in Enniskillen, its chairman, Liam Kelly, said he was "appalled" by the PSNI recently submitted a business case for the extra cash, which was being assessed by the Department of Kelly claimed the department recently told Chief Constable Jon Boutcher there is no money to support the plan. 'A slap in the face' Mr Boutcher's plan aims to increase officer numbers to 7,000 – the service currently has about 6,200 officers, the lowest in its 24-year is already under way, but the chief constable wanted his recovery plan funded on top of his annual Police Federation represents the organisation's rank and its annual conference, Mr Kelly said without a "last-minute rethink" by Stormont, the plan has been "effectively shredded". 'Slap in the face' He continued: "To say there is disappointment would be a gross understatement."It would be more accurate to say this federation is appalled by this decision."It is a slap in the face to our officers."He went on to state that he believed policing is "at the back of the queue" when it comes to budget allocations from Stormont."Nobody in government seems to care or give a damn," he remarked.A recent inspection report warned financial pressures are limiting what the PSNI is able to do, including monitoring violent offenders and neighbourhood patrolling.
Belfast Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Legal action by ex-PSNI officer alleging sectarianism is being dropped, says Chief Constable
Boutcher says he's satisfied that sectarianism alleged by the man didn't happen and doesn't need investigated – despite that officer standing over his claims. A former Catholic PSNI officer who said he was taking legal action over alleged sectarianism is no longer doing so, the Chief Constable has said. Jon Boutcher also said he is satisfied that sectarianism alleged by the man didn't happen and doesn't need investigated – despite that officer last night standing over his claims.
South Wales Guardian
08-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Sinn Fein urged to reflect on role played by Provisional IRA during Troubles
It came during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday which focused on issues faced by police in their role dealing with legacy. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher outlined his concerns around the costs in terms of financial and staffing resources, but also reputational damage because they had not been funded sufficiently to deal with legacy. He urged more resources as well as a focus on victims, and that an approach to dealing with the past be agreed. Dealing with the past was not included in the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent deals, including the Stormont House accord in 2014, were not progressed. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly responded to Mr Boutcher, hailing what he said seemed to be a 'new philosophy of approach' and potentially a 'watershed moment'. 'I have sat in front of many chief constables and you're the first chief constable who has said we need to change this in a radical way,' he said. Mr Kelly also said that while 'nothing is perfect', the Stormont House Agreement saw most of the parties and the British and Irish governments in agreement. He blamed the UK for 'pulling out' of that agreement. But DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein and others', and in reference to the party's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA, said they were 'the biggest cause of victims in Northern Ireland'. 'It seems ironic listening to Gerry speak at the minute that there is no reflection on what part Sinn Fein and the IRA played during the Troubles,' he said. 'I know it's not Stormont, it's not a political debating chamber but I think it has to be said that if everyone is to be honest and everyone wants to be honest, then everyone should be honest and should all come to the table honest in terms of the parts that they played during the Troubles, as opposed to working on the small numbers that the security forces were involved in. 'I certainly want to put on record our party's concerns around the process, sympathies with police in how they deal with it, but there is a section of the community will never be satisfied unless the victim makers stand in the courts and actually own up to their part as well.'
Glasgow Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Sinn Fein urged to reflect on role played by Provisional IRA during Troubles
It came during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday which focused on issues faced by police in their role dealing with legacy. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher outlined his concerns around the costs in terms of financial and staffing resources, but also reputational damage because they had not been funded sufficiently to deal with legacy. Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher was speaking during a Northern Ireland Policing Board meeting (Liam McBurney/PA) He urged more resources as well as a focus on victims, and that an approach to dealing with the past be agreed. Dealing with the past was not included in the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent deals, including the Stormont House accord in 2014, were not progressed. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly responded to Mr Boutcher, hailing what he said seemed to be a 'new philosophy of approach' and potentially a 'watershed moment'. 'I have sat in front of many chief constables and you're the first chief constable who has said we need to change this in a radical way,' he said. Mr Kelly also said that while 'nothing is perfect', the Stormont House Agreement saw most of the parties and the British and Irish governments in agreement. He blamed the UK for 'pulling out' of that agreement. But DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein and others', and in reference to the party's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA, said they were 'the biggest cause of victims in Northern Ireland'. DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein' (Liam McBurney/PA) 'It seems ironic listening to Gerry speak at the minute that there is no reflection on what part Sinn Fein and the IRA played during the Troubles,' he said. 'I know it's not Stormont, it's not a political debating chamber but I think it has to be said that if everyone is to be honest and everyone wants to be honest, then everyone should be honest and should all come to the table honest in terms of the parts that they played during the Troubles, as opposed to working on the small numbers that the security forces were involved in. 'I certainly want to put on record our party's concerns around the process, sympathies with police in how they deal with it, but there is a section of the community will never be satisfied unless the victim makers stand in the courts and actually own up to their part as well.'
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Sinn Fein urged to reflect on role played by Provisional IRA during Troubles
It came during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday which focused on issues faced by police in their role dealing with legacy. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher outlined his concerns around the costs in terms of financial and staffing resources, but also reputational damage because they had not been funded sufficiently to deal with legacy. He urged more resources as well as a focus on victims, and that an approach to dealing with the past be agreed. Dealing with the past was not included in the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent deals, including the Stormont House accord in 2014, were not progressed. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly responded to Mr Boutcher, hailing what he said seemed to be a 'new philosophy of approach' and potentially a 'watershed moment'. 'I have sat in front of many chief constables and you're the first chief constable who has said we need to change this in a radical way,' he said. Mr Kelly also said that while 'nothing is perfect', the Stormont House Agreement saw most of the parties and the British and Irish governments in agreement. He blamed the UK for 'pulling out' of that agreement. But DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein and others', and in reference to the party's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA, said they were 'the biggest cause of victims in Northern Ireland'. 'It seems ironic listening to Gerry speak at the minute that there is no reflection on what part Sinn Fein and the IRA played during the Troubles,' he said. 'I know it's not Stormont, it's not a political debating chamber but I think it has to be said that if everyone is to be honest and everyone wants to be honest, then everyone should be honest and should all come to the table honest in terms of the parts that they played during the Troubles, as opposed to working on the small numbers that the security forces were involved in. 'I certainly want to put on record our party's concerns around the process, sympathies with police in how they deal with it, but there is a section of the community will never be satisfied unless the victim makers stand in the courts and actually own up to their part as well.'
