Fighting crime to be hit by £7 million cuts

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”.