POLICE Scotland are to send more than 100 officers to Northern Ireland to help deal with riots in Belfast.
PSNI assistant chief constable Melanie Jones confirmed on Friday that the Scottish force would send extra units next week.
She said: "The initial deployment will give us four extra units, which is in the region of 120 additional officers deployed onto our streets.”
“This will give us a vital additional resilience that we need to continue to deal with this effectively."
On Thursday, reports said Police Scotland was considering a request to send around 120 officers to Northern Ireland amid ongoing riots in the nation’s capital.
PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher had said his officers were exhausted and could not “stand alone to deal with disorder like this any more”.
The National understands that Police Scotland has decided to meet the request from their colleagues in Northern Ireland.
The news comes as the PSNI brace for a further anti-immigration protest and counter demonstration after a week of violence.
New protests are set to take place in Belfast city centre on Friday evening. Queen’s University has closed its campus and a number of businesses have closed their offices as a precaution following violent scenes at a similar demonstration last Saturday.
There has been further disorder across Belfast during evenings since then, and 10 police officers injured.
Police responded to several race-related hate crime incidents and other disorder on Thursday night. Jones said it was the fifth night of disorder that officers have dealt with.
She said incidents included a number of reports of criminal damage to properties, a car set on fire, and houses attacked.
“In east Belfast, … the police were attacked by a group of masked men who threw bricks and masonry at officers in Flora Street,” she said.
“Thankfully no officer was injured and we were able to quickly and effectively deal with the situation.”
Jones further said 23 arrests have been made and 15 people charged – who remain remanded in custody.
She told press that the police are expecting a very busy weekend with a risk of spontaneous protest as well as scheduled events such as the Apprentice Boys of Derry parade in Derry and the West Belfast Festival.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We have received a number of requests for mutual aid and these are being considered, balanced against the needs of policing in Scotland.
"As a national service, Police Scotland has the ability to flex resources where the need is greatest in order to keep people safe."
