Thin blue line ‘anorexic’

Oldham Council meeting
COUNCILLORS issued a stark warning to the Government that the hard cuts to Greater Manchester Police could seriously jeopardise the handling of riots in the future.

One Oldham councillor fears: “The thin blue line is not only thin, but anorexic.”

Ateeque Ur-Rehman believes the £134million cuts to the local police authority will lead to “a weaker law and order” on the streets.

Oldham Council passed a motion to urge Oldham’s MPs to lobby the Government to review the funding cuts.

Councillor Ur-Rehman, said: “The Conservatives are talking tough but their words are hollow, when rather than making sensible savings that protect frontline services, they insist on pressing ahead with cuts that go too far, too fast and too deep.”

Several councillors expressed their worries since the recent looting in Manchester city centre.

Oldham had no evidence of disorder on the nights of the Manchester riots and crime continues to drop in Oldham.

But several Labour councillors believe crime could rise if frontline policing goes down.

The Liberal Democrats were generally in support of the motion discussed in the council chamber — but backed Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy’s comments that the cuts will not see a rise in crime.

Councillor Mark Alcock, said: “I fully support the police and the great work they do across Oldham and indeed Greater Manchester, but we have to come into the real world.

“The last Labour government left this country with massive debts and unfunded commitments.”