Who will Police Manchester when Tony Blair comes to town?

8.54.23pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Sep 2006

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, has contacted the Chief of South Manchester Police to ask how many of his officers are going to be diverted from their regular duties in South Manchester to form the 'ring of steel' round Tony Blair and other high profile delegates at the Labour Party conference in Manchester later this month.

Tony Blair's deeply unpopular foreign policies mean that huge anti-war protests are expected at the Labour conference in Manchester City Centre.

John Leech has been disturbed by off-the -record comments from senior South Manchester Police Officers that they would be unavailable during the week of the conference (23rd - 28th September) because they will be working full time in the City Centre as part of the security operation.

The MP has asked the Chief Superintendent of South Manchester Police how many of his officers are going to be diverted to the City Centre from South Manchester during the Labour Party Conference. He has also asked how many hours of Police Officers' time this equates to.

John Leech MP said:

"Events such as the Labour Party conference obviously need a high level of security. However, that should not be at the expense of leaving areas like South Manchester understaffed by Police and at the mercy of criminals."

"It is bad enough that Tony Blair's Labour Government have cut the funding for Greater Manchester Police, leading to a reduction in the numbers of Police Officers in South Manchester, without them pinching the Police we have left to cover their party conference."

"Official Police figures show that Crime has risen recently in Greater Manchester and in South Manchester. It is clear to me that the reduction in Police Officers is directly linked to this rise in crime."

John Leech MP concluded:

"I want cast-iron assurances that the levels of Police in Manchester Withington will not fall during Labour's conference."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1) The latest crime statistics for Greater Manchester can be viewed at:

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/Stats-July06.htm

2) Figures for Greater Manchester police numbers can be viewed at:

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/CD41380EA7A5E540802571C7002C93BF/$file/2006_07%20-%20Force%20Strength%20Report%20(FTE)%20July%2006%20with%20Tables.pdf