£200m needed to tackle terrorists, Northern Ireland's police chief announces

UK Government considering bid to supplement the region's police budget over the next four years

Northern Ireland's Chief Constable has warned that an extra £200m will be needed to fight against dissident republic terror groups.

The UK Treasury has been asked to allocate the additional spending on anti-terrorist operations and is currently considering a bid from North Ireland's police chief to supplement the region's police budget over the next four years in order to deal with the violent extremists while still delivering everyday policing.

Matt Baggott, Head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "I do need to have additional support to tackle the terrorist problem. This is a very, very real and sustained challenge to the political process and it's one that we have to tackle head on."

"We have over the last two years already received support from the Treasury as a measure of that additional threat, I am asking for that to be sustained over the next four years."

Further information:
Police Service of Northern Ireland