| Subject |
MP
raises concerns that police mergers could mean cuts of 25,000
full time officers
|
| Ref |
PR/06-140 |
| Date |
Friday
16th June 2006 |
Tobias Ellwood
MP, has expressed concern after a report by senior police officers
warned that a shortage of funding for the police could lead to the
loss of 25,000 full-time officers. A cut of 25,000 police officers
might mean a reduction of 56 officers across Bournemouth and 262
fewer officers across Dorset.
The report by
the Association of Chief Police Officers warns that Government proposals
to merge police forces and provide protective services cannot be
achieved "without additional Government funding". However,
since the Home Office budget has been frozen, police forces across
the country may be forced to cut their workforces to balance the
books. The report highlights that "forces will need around
6% to 7% cashable savings per annum…through staff reductions…equivalent
to holding (deleting) 25,000 police officer posts nationally."
Tobias commented:
"I very
much value the work of the police, from uniformed officers, support
staff, special constables and community support officers where they
exist. But I believe that the public want to see more, not fewer,
uniformed police officers patrolling the streets.
"The Government
is considering driving through a costly merger of our regional police
forces. The Home Secretary has proposed two options: either one
amalgamated force for the entire south west, or a standalone force
for Devon and Cornwall and another strategic force covering all
of Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset. These
plans have not been sufficiently debated or scrutinised, and are
against the wishes of local people.
"First
it was hospitals being forced to cut frontline staff, now I fear
that our police forces could be next. The fact is that the police
levy on council tax has soared by 133% per cent across Dorset since
1997, but much of this has been wasted on administration and paperwork.
Hard-working families and pensioners deserve a better deal. Cutting
the number of police officers would be daylight robbery."
|
