The British Government tonight that it was giving almost £40 million extra into policing in Northern Ireland.
The money, for the current financial year, was to help the PSNI cope with the additional financial pressures caused by continuing sectarian problems in interface areas, the threat from dissident republicans, loyalist feuding and organised crime.
The additional resources of £39.5 million would bring the total police budget to £654.5 million for the financial year 2002/2003.
PA