Angela Eagle: Police cuts gamble with public safety

Feb 8 2012

WHEN Labour left office there were record numbers of police on the street, over 16,500 more than in 1997 in addition to over 16,000 new Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

Helped by the record number of police officers crime fell by 43% and the chance of being a victim of crime was at a thirty-year low.

The Government is taking an irresponsible gamble with policing and public safety because it is cutting too far too fast. Figures released by the Government show that, on Merseyside, a shocking 14.4% of the entire police force’s officers are to be lost, meaning a cut of 650 from the previous figure of 4516.

On top of this huge cut in police officers a further 451 police support staff are to be lost, meaning police officers will have to do more admin work. In addition neighbourhood policing is being hit with the loss of 103 PCSOs – despite promises from the Government that this funding was ring- fenced.

Labour has a clear plan to find savings of around 12% over the course of this Parliament, which Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary said could be achieved without impacting on the frontline.

That’s why I will be calling on the Government to stop and rethink these devastating cuts to police budgets.