CASH-STRAPPED PSNI chiefs have cited “national security” as the reason for refusing to release details of a review which led it to writing off a £500,000 bill linked to a gold mining firm.
The 2022 review focused on the responsibilities around “licensing, transport, and use of explosives”.
The invoice was originally sent to the US gold mining firm for PSNI site security services at the facility near Greencastle, Co Tyrone, provided between August 2015 to June 2016
In 2016 Dalradian said they did not believe they and other quarry operators should be charged for security linked to the escort of explosives.
Earlier this month the PSNI again confirmed that it has given up on the cash it initially said it was owed.
In response to a recent question by Policing Board member Les Allamby, the PSNI confirmed the service had previously “invoiced Dalradian Gold in respect of services provided to the company in their use of explosives in the belief that such services constituted ‘Special Police Services’ and were therefore chargeable.
“Dalradian however never actually made any payments to PSNI at any stage.”
The PSNI added that after receiving legal advice “which determined that these services were deemed to be security related and therefore do not fall under the banner of ‘Special Police Services’, legal efforts to seek reimbursement for all the outstanding invoices were ceased with immediate effect”.
In a statement PSNI Chief Superintendent Amanda Ford said the “quarrying, mining and explosive industry continues to evolve and grow whilst in contrast policing faces continued reductions in overall headcount and budgets” adding that “services provided to this industry are kept under continuous review to ensure effective and efficient service delivery with the best use of police resource amongst competing demands.”
When asked by The Irish News for a copy of the review Ms Ford said the “report is not being released publicly for reasons of national security.”
It has previously been reported that the PSNI also agreed to pay back over £150,000 to a Canadian mining company.
The costs controversy has resurfaced in the same week as Chief Constable Jon Boutcher raised concerns about manpower levels and budget challenges facing the PSNI.
Anti-goldmine campaigner Ciaran McClean has been locked in a battle with the PSNI over access to information.
“I’ve spent over six years through various tribunals seeking transparency from the PSNI on this matter,” he said.
“They are acting in bad faith using a Troubles context to justify gifting PSNI financial resources to private mining companies and at the same time the chief constable is asking for more money...
“The public paid for the report, they’re entitled to see its contents and how much more it’s going to cost them.”
A spokesperson for Dalradian said the PSNI has confirmed “the escort of explosives for the mining and quarrying sector is considered to be security related and should not be chargeable”.
“The PSNI has statutory legal obligations to manage explosives and they determine the level of police involvement required,” he said.
“This is not a ‘service’ firms request.
“Dalradian is treated on the same basis as other local firms in the quarrying and mining sector which are not charged for the escort and supervision of explosives.”
