There are fears stolen cash machines could be being taken by dissident republicans planning to use the money to fund attacks against police in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Independent MP Sylvia Hermon (North Down) said: “Has the minister been made aware by the police service of Northern Ireland that dissident republicans are responsible for the recent spate of thefts of ATMs across Northern Ireland and are intent upon using that stolen money to purchase weaponry to attack police officers and others along the border in the event of a no-deal Brexit?”

Northern Ireland minister John Penrose said: “There has been a great deal of speculation about this matter.

“I think all I can say, and I hope she understands, in my response here is that policing obviously is an operational matter and there are ongoing and live police investigations into this as we speak, therefore I can’t really go much further into it.”