Tag Archives: Larne PCSP

Full Speech on Larne Response Policing

Mr Beggs: I thank the Business Committee for affording me the opportunity to discuss a topical and vital issue that affects the people of the borough of Larne and further afield:  response policing in Larne.  The news that emergency response police officers were to be relocated from Larne to Ballymena emerged during the summer.  I say “emerged” because I first became aware of the information through social media.  Reports subsequently appeared in the local press as further discussion of the rumours occurred. As early as August, I sought out and met the PSNI area commander for Larne and Ballymena, Chief Inspector John Magill.  He confirmed that, under an internal rationalisation programme called Service First, the Larne police response unit would be relocated to Ballymena in the autumn.  It was to happen as fast as that.  I expressed concern at the proposal, as well as the planned time frame, which would … Continue reading

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Plan to Transfer Police Response Officers “An Accountant’s dream but a Police Officer’s Nightmare”: Beggs

Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim Roy Beggs Jnr has brought the issue of the Transfer of Police Response Officers out of Larne PSNI station to Ballymena to the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Explaining why he was introducing the debate to Assembly, the East Antrim MLA criticised the non-attendance of the Minister for Justice David Ford.  It is normal for Ministers to be present to respond to issues raised in Assembly debates, but Minister Ford declined to attend citing that the Response officer transfer proposal was an operational matter for the PSNI alone. Mr Beggs told the Assembly: “The mantra of “That would be an operational matter” seems to trump everything.  It is precisely that lack of engagement by and the inflexibility of the hierarchy in the PSNI and Department of Justice that has prompted me to raise this issue in the Assembly to ensure that there is … Continue reading

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