He said, “Everyone will be appalled at the scenes of violence in Ballymena, including the vast majority who attended the respectful and peaceful vigil last night. There is no place for thuggery or intimidation in our society. I echo all those from the area who have spoken out against such acts and called for the justice system to be allowed to take its course in relation to recent incidents.
Once again when there is disorder, it is the PSNI who are on the front-line attempting to protect lives and property. The Chief Constable has been frank in his assessment of the funding pressures facing the PSNI, and I have been resolute in my support for his call for additional resources. The DUP will continue to advocate for adequate and sustainable funding for policing in Northern Ireland.
The Chief Constable has previously taken his concerns directly to the Prime Minister and it is incumbent upon the Government to ensure the PSNI can protect the people of Northern Ireland.
It can be no surprise to anyone that chronic underfunding has real world consequences, and there is an undeniable need to recruit more police officers. We cannot reverse the neglect of policing budgets across recent years overnight, but there must be recognition in government of those pressures and a meaningful intervention to assist.”