Well over 100 police officers and soldiers have been assigned to the violent loyalist paramilitary feud in Belfast, Northern Ireland's Chief Constable revealed today.
As he hit out at the drug dealers behind the developing shooting war that has left one man dead, Mr Hugh Orde also issued a contemptuous response to allegations that the security services were plotting with one of the paramilitary factions.
Progressive Unionist leader Mr David Ervine, whose party is linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force, claimed police were colluding with the rival Loyalist Volunteer Force.
But after talks with the Northern Secretary Paul Murphy and his security minister Mr Ian Pearson, Mr Orde challenged the PUP chief by declaring: "He needs to put up or shut up.
"If he's got evidence we have an independent, vigorous investigator of complaints against police."
Mr Orde met Mr Murphy as the authorities attempted to quell heightening tensions on the streets of Belfast following the UVF murder of senior LVF man Brian Stewart (34) who was gunned down in the east of the city last week.
Since then several bomb attacks and shooting incidents have been linked to the escalating dispute between the bitterly opposed organisations.
As he pledged to stop the gunmen wreaking terror in their communities, Mr Orde disclosed that patrols have been stepped up and British army units brought in to cope with the violence.
He said: "Over 100 officers would be deployed in this operation."
Since the weekend, eight people have been forced to flee their homes in the Belfast area as the threat levels rise.