Labour's Police Cuts!

12.10.18pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 25th Apr 2004

Manchester's Police force is facing massive cuts due to underfunding from the Labour Government.

Plans for an extra 360 police officers and an extra 100 community support officers have been scrapped. A further 150 officers will be taken off the streets as a result of funding decisions forced by Labour.

Councillor Marc Ramsbottom said "Crime is a serious issue in Manchester. Local people tell me we need more officers on the beat. The Labour Government failed to back the Chief Constable's plans to increase police numbers.

"It is the Liberal Democrats who are campaigning for 1,000 extra police officers, which would bring us into line with other comparable police forces."

Tony Blair has provided £6.8 million less than the Police expected, at the same time as increasing the burden on them. Manchester MP's refused to back calls by local police chiefs for extra government money.

Hulme campaigner, Andrew Turvey, blamed the Labour government, "Plans to increase the number of beat officers have been scrapped because of a £ 6.8 million funding shortfall from the Labour Government and because any move to raise more funds through Council Tax could be blocked by ministers. The plain fact is that there will be fewer police officers patrolling our streets next year!"

Liberal Democrats across the City of Manchester have been gathering a petition calling on the Government to give the Chief Constable the money he needs to employ the 1,000 extra police officers that we need.