Two former chief constables of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have delivered stark warnings to MPs, stating that the escalating costs associated with historical Troubles cases are set to financially cripple operational frontline policing in the region. Sir Hugh Orde and Sir George Hamilton presented evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, highlighting what they described as an uncontrollable financial drain that jeopardises public safety.
Uncontrollable Costs and a Billion-Pound Shadow
Sir Hugh Orde told the committee that the expenses related to policing the past are now unsustainable. He referenced a report from the current Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, which indicated that settling just a small number of civil litigation cases had cost £26 million, with £17 million of that sum going to legal fees. "This will financially cripple operational frontline policing in Northern Ireland," Sir Hugh stated, emphasising that the costs prevent necessary recruitment and divert vital human resources away from core duties.
Chief Constable Boutcher has repeatedly warned of severe funding pressures, suggesting the force could face a potential bill of £1 billion over the next decade due to civil litigation surrounding legacy cases. This colossal figure casts a long shadow over the PSNI's operational budget and its ability to maintain effective neighbourhood policing.
A Flawed Judicial Process and the Need for a New Approach
Sir Hugh drew attention to the 2009 Eames-Bradley report, which proposed alternative methods for addressing the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles—recommendations that were never implemented following controversy. He argued that the conventional judicial process has failed victims' families, with "an infinitesimally small number of convictions" and little prospect of future ones. "The justice process will not deliver what these families want," he said, advocating for a fundamentally different approach to these complex historical issues.
Dramatic Underfunding and the Neighbourhood Policing Crisis
Sir George Hamilton underscored the PSNI's precarious financial position, describing it as suffering from dramatic under-funding compared to police forces in England and Wales. "I think it's a pretty dire position that they are in financially," he told MPs, noting that this is manifesting in record-low numbers of neighbourhood policing officers.
He explained that budget pressures are exacerbated by the evolving nature of policing, which is becoming more complex and shifting significant activity into less visible, private spaces rather than traditional public-facing roles. Sir George warned that the pain of these financial constraints would be felt most acutely in neighbourhood policing, eroding the force's presence and connection with local communities.
Call for Separated Funding and Legislative Action
Both former chiefs called for urgent government intervention. Sir George insisted that "the funding needs to be completely separated out from policing" for legacy issues, describing it as a constant drain on operational resources. This comes as the UK Government is progressing legislation at Westminster to replace the widely criticised previous Legacy Act.
The new bill proposes creating a reformed legacy commission with enhanced powers. However, police in Northern Ireland have raised concerns about the substantial costs of preparing cases for this new body, as well as the ongoing expenses related to compensation in civil litigation. The warnings from these senior figures highlight a critical juncture for policing in Northern Ireland, where the financial demands of addressing the past threaten to undermine the security of the present.
