To ask the Minister of Justice what conversations she has had with the Chief Constable about all the support required from her Department regarding the planned increase in police numbers.

I have conversations with the Chief Constable on a regular basis and we discuss a range of issues, including the increase in police officer numbers and the support required from my Department. For example, in my last stocktake with the Chief Constable on 5 January 2022, we had a discussion on the draft budget 2022-25 outcome for the department and the potential impact on the future recruitment of police officers.

In the current financial year, PSNI received an in-year allocation to enable the PSNI to retain their police numbers of approximately 7,000, and to enable the recruitment of 100 officers in 2021-22 towards the police officer numbers in the New Decade New Approach document. However, the draft budget for 2022-25 is insufficient to maintain the police number numbers at 7,100 and further progress to increase police officer numbers will not be possible unless further funding is made available.

The NI Executive has now agreed to consult on a draft budget for 2022-25, and I would strongly encourage everyone with an interest in policing to have their say before it closes on 7 March.

In the meantime, I will continue to work with Executive Colleagues, including the Minister of Finance, and the Chief Constable, to ensure we have a police service that is properly resourced in all aspects for the challenges it faces.