POLICE have the resources to deal with any loyalist disorder in the wake of a new post-Brexit deal, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has said.
Mr Byrne told the Policing Board in Belfast that his assessment is that loyalism "remains calm" following the unveiling of the Windsor Framework earlier this week.
He was quizzed about a report in a Sunday newspaper which suggested loyalist paramilitaries could cause widespread disorder if any EU-UK deal did not scrap the so-called Irish Sea border.
The chief constable said "there have been some been some questions raised in the margins about the revisions to the protocol arrangements and the effect on loyalism.
"At the moment, in the midst of everything else, we assess that loyalism remains calm in terms of the chatter, but we will keep that perspective under clear and careful review."
David Campbell, a spokesman for the loyalist paramilitary groups, said there is "a growing consensus...the Framework significantly helps trade flows between GB and NI."
"But it does not appear to deal with the sovereignty and consent issues which go to the heart of unionist rejection of the protocol," Mr Campbell told the News Letter, before adding that the UVF and UDA "will be receiving legal and political advice and will then issue its definitive view".
However, they added "we repeatedly warned the prime minister against trying to sell an imperfect deal and not consulting widely within unionism and loyalism. Sadly his consultation has been limited and audiences cherry-picked and this is the result."
Ulster Unionist board member Mike Nesbitt branded as thugs the "UVF...who apparently have threatened to wreck the place if they don't get what they want".
Mr Byrne said: "We aren't picking up any chatter or anything in terms of planning that would cause us concerns in terms of a reaction in the way that has been reported that 'we are going to burn the place down', as has been in the media from that part of the community."
