Funding delay makesit difficult for policing watchdog

Chair of Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), Councillor Eric McGinley, nonetheless welcomed the provision of additional financial support to local PCSPs from the Department of Justice and NI Policing Board.

“I welcome the further provision of £1.5m of support to PCSPs from the Joint Committee with the Derry and Strabane PCSP receiving £179,306 from the allocation.

“However, I am disappointed that we are only receiving this funding now with a spend deadline of March 31.

“This will put additional pressure on PCSP staff and our delivery partners to allocate and spend the money before the end of the financial year.

“I would also point out that this funding added to what we received in September is still over £60,000 short of the indicative allocation we were due to receive from the Joint Committee for 2015/16.

“The PCSP will continue to work with our partners to improve policing and deliver safer shared and confident communities for all our citizens.”

Supporting Councillor McGinley’s comments Margaret McLaughlin vice chair of the PCSP added that while they welcome the additional allocation from the Joint Committee the spend deadlines are extremely tight.

“The PCSP did not receive any confirmation of funding until September this year which meant we were unable to support the valuable work carried out in communities over the summer months. However, we will carry on working with all agencies to make our council area a safer place to live work and visit,” she said.