GOVERNMENT AWARDS £4M EMERGENCY FUNDING TO PSNI AFTER BELFAST DISORDER

The UK government has allocated £4 million in emergency funding to the Police Service of Northern Ireland following violent disorder in Belfast last week. The money will cover overtime costs and mutual aid support, which included deploying additional officers from Police Scotland to assist local forces. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn announced the package whilst visiting Northern Ireland on Thursday to meet police, emergency responders, community groups and youth organisations involved in responding to the disorder.

Violence erupted across Belfast after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast circulated on social media last Monday. The attack left the victim with serious injuries, and a man has been charged with attempted murder. Homes, businesses and vehicles were attacked during the disorder, and healthcare workers were targeted in racist attacks. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons reported that 115 households have sought help from the Housing Executive citing civil unrest, with 76 presentations of homelessness and 38 families placed in temporary accommodation.

Hilary Benn stated that the funding package demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting the PSNI in confronting the disorder and protecting the community. He said: "Our most important duty as government is to keep the public safe." Gordon Lyons described the disorder as "outrageous" and said he understood that many communities remain fearful. The money will be drawn from government reserves as a one-off increase to additional security funding for the PSNI.