To ask the Minister of Justice to detail what conversations she has had with the Chief Constable regarding potential cost-efficiency measures in the PSNI, including the scaling back of services, pay and staff.

I have regular meetings with the Chief Constable and we discuss a range of policing issues, including the impact of in-year pressures. I last met with the Chief Constable as part of our regular stocktakes on 11 October and we discussed the PSNI’s financial position amongst other matters.

In the absence of an Executive and a budget, the financial position for the justice system as a whole is extremely challenging. PSNI has provided my Department with regular updates of the in-year pressures they are currently facing which, as with all parts of the justice system, are significant.

However, the prioritisation of policing resources is ultimately an operational matter for the Chief Constable who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting his operational independence and the role of the Policing Board.