The PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott has said he is satisfied with the financial package on offer from the government for the devolution of policing and justice to Northern Ireland.
Attending the monthly Policing Board meeting, Matt Baggott said the £1bn financial deal agreed last month by the First and Deputy first ministers in London met the PSNI's operational needs.
"I do welcome the clarity and the certainty of the financial package, which of course is predicated against devolution," Matt Baggott told UTV.
He added that the package addressed the "big ticket" issues that had been looming over the PSNI, such as the potentially massive compensation payout for former officers claiming damages for hearing loss sustained in firearms training and an estimated £100m pressure on the police pensions scheme.
The Chief Constable said it will allow him to counter the increasing threat from dissident republicans.
In its latest report published on Wednesday, the Independent Monitoring Commission said the threat was the highest it had seen over the last six years.
But the IMC said dissidents could be undermined by the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont, arguing that the move would signal the strength of the political process.
"I'm a huge believer that the best people to make decisions about local justice and policing issues are local people", Matt Baggott said.
"So I do believe that devolution is a step towards a safer, more peaceful Northern Ireland."
Negotiations hit a new stalemate last month after First Minister Peter Robinson told the Commons of the "political imperative" to resolve issues of parading in Northern Ireland before policing and justice powers could be devolved.
Sinn Fein has since branded as "totally and absolutely unacceptable" any attempts by the DUP to attach the parades issue as a precondition to devolution.
On Thursday, Matt Baggott said he did not believe parading was a police issue, but added that the millions currently spent on policing marches should be spent on frontline policing.
© UTV News