Cuts are biting into the hearts of communities - Lloyd

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd

PUBLIC sector cuts are affecting the safety of local communities, Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has warned.

Mr Lloyd brought together councillors, voluntary and public sector agencies and community leaders to discuss the implications and the extent of the cuts since 2010.

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy spoke of the demands on his force, which between 2010 and 2018 is likely to have lost more 2,000 officers, reducing the number to fewer than 6,000.

Mr Lloyd said: “In Greater Manchester we haven’t shied away from the financial challenge by transforming the way we deliver services and working more closely with other agencies for the benefit of local people. But these government-imposed cuts are too deep and unfair.

“The reality is we are running out of money to be able to provide a police service the people of Greater Manchester deserve.

“But the police aren’t the only victim of these cuts. More than £1.4bn has been axed from public services across Greater Manchester. We are now at the point where the safety of communities is being put at risk.

“This is the start of a big conversation we want to have with all of the people of Greater Manchester. What we are demanding isn’t special treatment — it’s fair treatment.”

The event follows the announcement last week that GMP faces another £41m of cuts over the next 12 months.