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Fighting crime to be hit by £7 million cuts
Reporter: Lobby Correspondent
Date online: 23 June 2010
Slashing almost £7 million from the Greater Manchester Police budget will lead to cuts in the front line and the ability to tackle crime effectively, the Government has been warned.
Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Gwyne, speaking in a Commons debate on GMP funding, said that under Labour, overall crime fell by 36 per cent across the region and police numbers increased from fewer than 7,000 in 1997 to 8,148 by September, 2009.
He said investment had led to neighbourhood policing in every ward across the region, adding: “Crime itself is not always the main threat to people’s sense of well-being. Sometimes the fear of crime is just as, if not more, important, although it can be hard to quantify.
“Neighbourhood policing and bobbies on the beat have been a real reassurance to our constituents.
“I am concerned about how many more efficiency savings there are in the police service in Greater Manchester.
“It has been streamlined over the past decade and it is not clear that there is now much spare capacity. It is a very lean organisation. In short, all the cuts will inevitably impact on front-line services.”
Mr Gwynne also attacked the Lib-Dems across the region, elected on a pledge not to support £6 billion cuts, of having “political amnesia” and letting down the people of Greater Manchester.
Mr Gwynne added: “From the discussions that I have had with the local police and other agencies, I know that there is a real sense of concern about this issue, for not just Greater Manchester police, but police forces across the country.
“We need to have a more considered approach that takes into account what local communities want and need, particularly in relation to something as important as policing and community safety.”
Police Minister Nick Herbert said police had to take its share of cuts but the decision had not been “pleasant or easy”.
All forces are bearing an equal cut and Government believed savings could be made by cutting “wasteful spending, reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency in key functions, while leaving the front line of policing strong and secure”.
Comments
How much does the helicopter cost? Massive amount of money that can't be justified.
How about coppers having to work longer and pensions not being as high as they are from an early age?
Maybe stop ex coppers that quit at 55 from drawing pensions until they are 60?
GMP has spent an awful lot of money on buildings all over the place.
I don't believe for one minute that 1,000 extra coppers has produced a 36% drop in crime. Clear manipulation of statistics.
@Prodriver, 1997 to 2010 is a long time with technology, maybe that's got something to do with why crime fell? You look at a Windows 95 PC and Windows 7, it's improved so much and the Police are the same, they've evolved into a better crime fighting force, so forget fiddling statistics. Though I guess progress will have to stop now that the con-dem government is in power.
Prodriver _ I disagree. The helicopter can be an invaluable tool when searching large areas for missing persons or offenders, for example. It can cover such areas far quicker than patrols on the ground. It also has an infra red camera, useful not only in darkness or low light, but where thick woodland or deep undergrowth is concerned. An officer can be just feet away from someone but not be able to see them. The infra red will & the crew can direct patrols.
Prodriver : maybe one way of keeping costs down is to share the helicopter with a neighbouring force. Of course, this increases the likelihood of it be elsewhere when needed.
why is every department thats facing cuts because of the coalition complaining and telling us we'll feal it in te services they provide.,
the idea of these cut is to sort out te wasteful upper tier staff who provide very little in terms of value for money!
its just a shame that they'll actually be the last to go.
anyone in upper level management in the public sector should really be volunteering to take pay cuts at the moment to help save jobs!
its happening everywhere in the private sector!
Have Your Say
I would have a lot more respect for Gwynne and his Labour rabble if they would stand up and say that the last Labour government got it wrong in respect of massive public overspending instead of the usual platitudes of "not our fault it was worldwide crisis". Looks like we are in a rerun of 1979.
By mikejh45 @ 23/06/2010 13:05:58