Lancashire Commissioner joins North West colleagues in calling on the Government to reverse police cuts.



Politicians across the North West of England have come together to call on the Government to reverse years of policing austerity in today's Queen's Speech.


The Mayor of Greater Manchester joined Police and Crime Commissioners for Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire in writing to the Home Secretary to ensure that the public's concerns about police cuts are top of the Government's agenda. Citing recent attacks and the erosion of neighbourhood policing that provides vital community intelligence they said,


"As Home Secretary you have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that police forces across the country are properly resourced so they can keep people safe and tackle crime. We are asking that you ensure that this is a priority for the Government by making a clear commitment to reverse austerity in policing in this year's Queen's Speech."


Across the four forces more than £385 million in savings have had to be found since 2010 with a further estimated £90m to be found by 2020. This has meant a reduction of more than 4000 police officers and 1500 fewer police staff across the region.

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner said, "I hear from people and officers across Lancashire about their concerns about the resources available to the police to do their job and keep communities safe.
"The Government need to listen to these concerns and commit to reversing austerity in policing in the Queen's Speech this week.

"Despite promises from Ministers around 'protecting' budgets Lancashire receives less money every year from the Government to deliver a policing service. My message to the Home Secretary is that this needs to change and we need to start re-investing in policing, not cutting our budgets further."

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We urgently need a wholesale review of police funding in the light of the changing times we are living in. Our police forces have absorbed the brunt of cuts as best they can since 2010, but more savings still need to be found and officer numbers are tumbling. As we see the terrorist threat at its highest ever level, and an increase in violent crime, our thin blue line has become dangerously overstretched.

“In Greater Manchester alone we have 2,000 fewer police officers patrolling our streets. This level of pressure cannot be sustained and, without a doubt, Greater Manchester Police needs more officers. Our Chief Constable Ian Hopkins has said that officer numbers are currently at the low end of reasonable, which to me means borderline unreasonable.

“The tragic events of recent months have highlighted just how important the police service is to the safety of our people, and this is an area that cannot simply be pruned back beyond recognition. But even prior to these terror attacks, policing was struggling to cope with the day-to-day demands placed on it. The Government must act now and reverse the cuts before our police service becomes unviable.”

In Lancashire savings of £72 million have had to be found since 2010 with more than £19 million additional savings estimated to be needed by 2020. This has meant a reduction of 800 officers and more than 400 police staff.

How about making a start by getting rid of the Police Commissioners themselves.
The millions of £'s wasted on them would pay to put more 'bobbies on the beat'.

Police Commissioners are a waste of money and time. Time they were abolished.

When cuts are in the offing, the fat cats always make sure it's not them.

That's the way the system works, and people keep voting for it.

Originally Posted by justbecause

How about making a start by getting rid of the Police Commissioners themselves.
The millions of £'s wasted on them would pay to put more 'bobbies on the beat'.

I agree! Abolish Police Commissioners + their department of 35+ overpaid employees! If an overall supervisor is required, then use people experienced in Policing Duties who could double up on duties when required. Far more efficient!

we give 250 million pounds plus per week in Foreign Aid. We pay 1'000 Million Pounds per week, in interest payments on the Countries Debt. It is about time we gave less in Foreign Aid and spend that money in this country.