MP calls for clarity on police numbers
Added 05/02/2010Rochdale MP Paul Rowen is calling on Greater Manchester police to be clear about the number proposed job cuts after leaked reports suggested up to 300 posts could go in the next four years.
Earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that they had seen leaked documents which showed 12 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, including Greater Manchester, were likely to reduce the number of full-time police officers because of restraints on public spending.
The leaked report went on to say that as many as 900 posts nationwide are going in this year alone.
Mr. Rowen said: “The government made a commitment to protect law and order from the impact of public sector cuts and now we see the possibility of up to 300 posts may be under threat in our local police authority. Gordon Brown may talk tough on crime, but he is ducking the major decisions when it comes to protecting the people of Rochdale.
“The police do an excellent job in Rochdale making sure the streets and local residents are kept safe and secure and I’m sure the last thing they want are job cuts in their force which will have a detrimental effect in the way the force is run.”
When the report was leaked, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy declined to put a figure on his own forces headcount reduction.
Mr. Rowen is now urging the force to release a breakdown of Greater Manchester’s police numbers over the next year.
He added: “I will be writing to the Chief Constable for clarity in the amount of police numbers in the force over the next year. I will be asking Peter Fahy to reassure us that any job cuts will not affect front line public services.”
This week, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg outlined the party’s plans to put more than 3,000 more police officers on the beat over the next for years.
Under the plans, which will be funded by savings from scrapping national identity cards, police forces across the country would be given extra money to boost police numbers.