£1m police bill after stab death

Gerard Devlin was killed in west Belfast in February

The cost of policing an area of west Belfast following the murder of Gerard Devlin in February has amounted to £1m, a senior police officer has said.

Mr Devlin, 39, was stabbed to death as he called for his children at Whitecliff Parade in Ballymurphy. Four people have been charged with murder.

Since then, there have been more than 100 incidents, including arson.

District commander David Boultwood said the cost was affecting other police work in the area.

Mr Boultwood said: "Car crime has increased by 48%, there has been an increase of 15% in burglary.

"We are trying to provide effective and efficient service to the people of west Belfast and provide them with reassurance that we are fit for purpose and we can do our job.

"Obviously when you are spending that sort of money in a very small geographic area it impacts greatly on our performance."

Police have been investigating a link between the trouble and the death of Mr Devlin.