Police chief quizzed on cuts

Liberal Democrats want to know how many police officers there will be in Greater Manchester after reports that the force is shedding 300 through natural wastage because of budget cuts.

Parliamentary hopefuls Elwyn Watkins and Mark Alcock have written to Chief Constable Peter Fahy to request a breakdown of police numbers over the next year.

Mr Watkins, Lib-Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “We have written to the Chief Constable to seek an assurance that budget cuts will not impact upon front-line services.”

Councillor Alcock, Parliamentary spokesman for Oldham West and Royton, said: “The police work very hard and I’m sure that the last thing they want is to cut front-line staff, but if their funding is reduced then it will impact somewhere — and we would like to know how it will affect local services.”