Abrahams hits out at ‘disastrous’ cutbacks

DEBBIE Abrahams has warned that the Government’s determination to drive through its “disastrous cuts” programme will erode community cohesion.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth Labour MP said she feared what impact the “ideologically driven” cuts would have on the social fabric of society and levels of crime.

She said: “Pay disparities between the UK’s highest and lowest paid are taking us back to Victorian times. There is strong evidence that the increase in socio-economic inequalities will not only result in widening differences in life expectancy between the rich and poor but also be associated with higher levels of crime.

“The trust that underpins community cohesion in a multicultural society is once again being eroded by a Tory Government determined to drive their disastrous cuts through.”

Mrs Abrahams made the comments during a Commons debate on policing and crime in which she told MPs of the concerns of 50 police officers who had contacted her from her constituency worried about the effect cuts to both police grants and council budgets could have on rising crime.

She said: “The partnership working between the police, local authority and voluntary sector has had immense benefits for crime prevention and community safety, for example in target-hardening measures such as alley-gating. Other measures that have brought benefits include youth programmes and offender management.”

The Labour MP told the Commons that 1,400 police officers are set to be lost across Greater Manchester, in addition to 1,600 civilian posts, as a result of budget cuts.

She added: “In last year’s manifesto, Labour made a commitment to maintaining police staffing levels, with a programme of investment. We were going to make tough choices elsewhere, in procurement, IT and overtime.”

Home Secretary Theresa May insisted that police forces should be able to cope with the cuts they face without hitting the front line — and may even be able to improve services.

She aid the coalition was slashing the bureaucracy created by Labour.