PSNI numbers set to fall to 6,700 - 800 below what was recommended by Patten

Such a decrease would leave the PSNI almost 800 below the 7,500 officers suggested under Patten reforms two decades ago.

In his monthly Report to the Policing Board, Mr Byrne highlighted his concerns over the future funding for policing and detailed some of the recent demands the service has dealt with in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as a rising trend on assaults of police officers and staff.

Mr Byrne told the Board: “A reduction in police officer numbers will be necessary in order to achieve a balanced budget in 2021-22, with the police officer headcount reducing by approximately 300 officers throughout the financial year.

“It is projected that this will result in a total police officer numbers falling to 6,719 by March 2022.”

The Chief Constable told the Policing Board: “It is our formal organisational assessment, that the current draft budget allocation is not sufficient to facilitate meaningful delivery of outcomes under the Policing Plan 2020 - 2025.

“The complexity of the current policing environment should not be underestimated. This is not the time to contemplate any reduction in community based policing.”

Mr Byrne revealed that in January police dealt with 3,639 Covid-19 related incidents, with specialist tactical advice provided to police responders on 2,475 occasions.

He said: “Police officers have continued to play an active part in supporting the combined public health effort, working hard to provide a visible police presence, whilst engaging to explain and encourage adherence with the ‘Stay at Home’ message.

“January 2021 was the busiest month on record in terms of enforcement activity, with 1080 £200 fixed penalty notices (COV4) issued across Northern Ireland.

“The majority of enforcement focused around gatherings in private dwellings with more than six times the amount of prohibition notices issued to private dwellings than to business owners operating in contravention of Regulations.”

He added: “As we move into Spring, with increased daylight hours and better weather, pressures are likely to emerge around public adherence to social gathering restrictions and travel guidance.”

The Chief Constable also used his report to highlight his concerns over the increasing number of assaults on police.

Mr Byrne commented: “We are concerned by provisional crime figures that indicate a 13.6% increase in the number of recorded crimes for ‘assault with injury on a Constable’, with a significant increase in the severity of assaults on our officers and staff. Assaults on police should not be ‘just

part of the job’.