Tayside officers sent to Belfast as violence escalates

Police from Tayside have been drafted in to help curb sectarian violence in Belfast.

Specially trained public-order unit staff have been deployed as violence spreads across the Northern Ireland capital.

Violence began on Friday when police enforced a ban on an Orange Order march in the north of the city.

Since then police in the area have been attacked with pipe bombs, bricks, petrol bombs and other masonry.

Nigel Dodds MP and 71 police officers have been injured in the violence, which has resulted in 62 people being arrested.

It is understood no officers from Tayside have been hurt in the clashes so far.

Scottish Police Federation north area committee chairman David Hamilton suggested cuts to the Police Service in Northern Ireland were responsible for the extra officers being required.

The PSNI now has 6,900 officers, almost half of its former total of 12,000.