Irish-speaking police officers drafted in for fleadh in Derry

The fleadh coincides with Derry's year as UK City of Culture

The PSNI have confirmed that they will be drafting in Irish-speaking officers for the week of the All-Ireland fleadh in Londonderry.

An Irish-speaking officer will also be on duty at a mobile police station that will be based at the Diamond in Derry city centre.

The festival of traditional Irish music will be held on 11-18 August.

Ch Insp Jon Burrows said "hundreds of officers" would be on patrol and "some" will speak Irish.

"In order to engage with the public, there will be fluent Irish speakers on a daily basis," he added.

"There are four Irish speaking officers in Derry itself. We will be bringing officers from elsewhere too.

"This demonstrates how diverse and reflective the police service is of the community we serve."

Spanish and French

Mr Burrows said several hundred officers would be on shift throughout the week of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, including officers on the beat.

"Road policing will be a priority and we have been in touch with the Department for Regional Development," he said.

"We want to make sure campsites are safe and that licensing is safely and responsibly taking place.

"More and more officers are learning to speak Irish and I'm humbled at how many can also speak Spanish and French."

Organisers of the All-Ireland fleadh estimate there will be 300,000 visitors to the city.