He was speaking as the recently restored Northern Ireland Executive prepares to set the next budget. Appearing before the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday, Mr Boutcher outlined an example of an elderly woman with a broken pelvis who was brought to hospital in a police Land Rover because no ambulances were available. He referred to the Patten report on policing which recommended 7,500 full-time officers in a peacetime Northern Ireland, but said they have lost 22% with numbers currently at 6,400. He said the HMICFRS report recognised the additional responsibilities of police in Northern Ireland, including national threats, legacy, being an armed force, a fortified estate and threats against officers. In terms of supporting the health service, Mr Boutcher said police attend around 500 ambulance calls a months, where the ambulance service cannot respond to calls.

Source: The Herald March 07, 2024 14:03 UTC