Fermanagh and Omagh District Council are to continue to press for answers on the controversial PSNI move not to charge private companies for the escorting of explosives, although division did surface as to how this is done.

Last month, members agreed to write to the Minister for Justice, Naomi Long, enquiring if she had established the origin of the decision to change practice.

She replied by “reiterating her views” that this is a PSNI matter.

The Council also submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to the PSNI around the costs, who replied stating the amount of detail sought exceeded the hours assigned, so would not be progressed.

The correspondence was discussed at the Policy and Resources Committee meeting, where Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent described the Minister’s response as “dismissive” and proposed writing back to establish if the PSNI made representations around a financial feasibility study or costing exercise, given the potential budgetary impact.

‘Irony’

In relation to the FoI reply, he said: “The irony is not lost. We enquire about expenditure, and the PSNI can’t afford to answer.

“Reference is again made to legal advice, but it’s exactly that – advice. As a council, we’ve received legal advice on various issues and some members oppose it.

“It isn’t direction or guidance – it’s advice. The fact is, the PSNI seemingly acted on a solo run, without contacting the relevant departments.”

Seconding, Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, Independent, described the Minister’s response as indicating she “completely washes her hands of any form of democratic oversight”.

He continued: “This poses real and genuine concerns around policing. Frontline funding and resources will be taken away from basic policing to provide security for private companies who promote themselves as multi-billion profit-making industries.

“Yet when [the] Council looks for information to achieve some degree of public accountability, we’re told it costs too much.”

He proposed the Council continue submitting FoIs with tighter timeframes to comply with what he described as the PSNI’s “ability to evade public accountability, and it is a disgrace we have to do that”.

Councillor Josephine Deehan, Independent, felt the proposals “make perfect sense”. She continued: “I have huge respect for the PSNI and have always been committed to good community policing, but I am aware they are hampered through a lack of resources.

“Yet, they are spending literally tens of thousands on security services for a private company.

“There is a real issue of accountability, and it’s incumbent on this council to seek appropriate assurances on how public money is being spent. I’m disappointed by the Minister’s response, and we should be vigorous in getting answers.”

When the Committee Chair, Councillor Errol Thompson, asked if all members were in agreement, Ulster Unionist Councillor John McClaughry said: “No – I think it’s a waste of time. We should be asking something new.

‘Disappointed’

“I’m disappointed the Minister isn’t aware of what the PSNI are doing. A lot of people depend on quarrying for their livelihood.

“They are already suffering, with equipment and fuel costs going up. If we start digging a hole, these companies are all going to be charged.

“The PSNI don’t care what the explosives were used for – they just escort it there and make sure it’s used.

“We’re opening a can of worms. We’re not happy with answers, but we shouldn’t push this any further. We could come up with new questions, but the way we are pushing this, we could seriously damage the quarrying industry.”

Councillor McAleer retorted: “Contrary to that, the PSNI would be very much interested in where explosives are going and who is using them.”

His proposal went to a vote, which passed 21-4. Councillor O’Cofaigh’s proposal also passed, 15-10.

Implications

Meanwhile, BBC Local Democracy asked the Minister for Justice if the PSNI have communicated with her Department on budgetary implications of explosives escorting.

A spokesperson replied: “The supervision of civil explosives and associated policing costs are an operational matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Policing Board.”

Asked the same question, PSNI Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson said: “The decision not to charge for policing services connected to the explosives, mining and quarry industry was based solely on legal advice.

“Whilst a feasibility study or budget impact assessment were not part of the original decision-making progress, they did form an important part of the related and recently completed review, which remains with senior management for consideration.”