Politics

PM to meet Belfast riot police during Northern Ireland visit

The prime minister is to meet rank-and-file police officers involved in responding to recent street violence during a visit to Northern Ireland.

Sir Keir Starmer will be briefed on Monday by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

He is also expected to have a number of private engagements with community services involved in supporting families and vulnerable people.

Dozens of PSNI officers were injured as they dealt with racially-motivated trouble on Belfast’s streets in recent weeks, linked to anti-immigration protests.

There have been dozens of arrests and people charged in Northern Ireland in connection with the disturbances.

Police also faced disorder in Londonderry involving young people.

Last week, 80 officers from Police Scotland arrived in Northern Ireland to help support PSNI duties.

Stormont’s Justice Minister Naomi Long said she would ask for more funding to help the PSNI meet the costs of bringing in reinforcements from Scotland.

It is Sir Keir’s second visit to Northern Ireland since he became prime minister in July.

It will also be his second in-person engagement with the PSNI chief constable since entering Downing Street.

They are expected to discuss policing challenges in Northern Ireland, where officer numbers have been at record lows for more than a year.

The PSNI has about 6,300 officers.

During his last visit to Northern Ireland, Sir Keir met the first and deputy first ministers and other political representatives at Stormont.

He emphasised a “reset” in relationships between the UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

It followed the devolved institutions being restored in February after a two-year hiatus.


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