Lloyd slams secrecy over cuts to police

Tony Lloyd

GREATER Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has slammed the Home Secretary for ignoring calls to come clean on planned cuts to local policing.

Mr Lloyd says the Home Office has repeatedly failed to provide information on how the proposals will affect Greater Manchester and other forces, despite demands from police and politicians.

Based on the information provided, Greater Manchester could lose another £52 million from its policing budget on top of the £275 million already lost.

Mr Lloyd said: “Theresa May and her army of civil servants have ignored pleas from myself, the chief constable and local politicians for them to ditch the secrecy and tell the truth about what these changes will mean.

“Policing Minister Mike Penning let the cat out the bag in Parliament last week, admitting that they know the impact these changes will have on local policing — but are refusing to say.

“This secrecy and silence fuels further uncertainty about the future of policing in Greater Manchester.

“This process has been a shambles. The Home Office needs to first come clean and then re-run the consultation process, but this time make it transparent.”