Long discusses police budget pressures in meeting with Boutcher

Northern Ireland’s new justice minister, Naomi Long, has met the PSNI chief constable to discuss pressures on officer numbers and the police service’s budget.

Mrs Long also said new legislation to increase sentences for those convicted of attacking frontline workers will be introduced following her meeting with Jon Boutcher.

The minister said: “It was good to meet with the chief constable and I look forward to working with him and his team as we address policing issues in Northern Ireland.

“We discussed a range of issues facing policing at the moment including police pay, budget and policing numbers.”

Mrs Long also reiterated her condemnation of recent attacks on police officers.

The PSNI revealed that 25 officers were attacked during a 24-hour period at the weekend.

Mrs Long said: “No-one should be attacked for carrying out their daily duties.

“I plan to bring forward new legislation in this mandate to increase the maximum sentence for such attacks and make serious assaults on frontline workers a statutory aggravating factor.”