Row Over Police Cuts Deepens
February 28, 2005 12:00 AM
A slanging match between Labour Ministers and Greater Manchester's Chief Constable has been condemned by Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell as "damaging to our police and undermining trust in Government".
The row erupted after the Chair of the Greater Manchester Police Authority wrote to the Home Secretary warning that unless essential cash is injected into next years police budget, the number of bobbies on the beat in Greater Manchester will fall.
In a Parliamentary motion, Greater Manchester's two Liberal Democrat MPs, Patsy Calton and Andrew Stunell have challenged the Government to stump up the required cash to maintain at least the current level of operational police on the streets of Greater Manchester in the coming financial year.
Now in a letter to MPs, Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears claims that she is "surprised at the claim that the additional funding [for 2005/6] from Government is insufficient for Greater Manchester Police to even standstill" and that "there is a very substantial investment in policing in Manchester."
Crucially, the Minister refused to give any guarantee that the number of bobbies on the beat in Greater Manchester will remain at current levels in the letter.
Andrew Stunell MP said:
"The Chief Constable says police officers will have to come off the beat and sit behind desks because of a shortfall in cash. It is outrageous for the Government to question his judgement, and to put residents of Stockport and Greater Manchester at increased risk."
Patsy Calton MP added:
"The response from the Home Office to this crisis for Greater Manchester Police is simply not good enough. We will continue to push for a clear commitment from the Government to maintain at least the same numbers of bobbies on the beat across Greater Manchester."
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