5,000-strong Manchester Police Petition goes to the Prime Minister

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Mar 2007

Liberal Democrat MPs Oppose Labour's Cuts to Greater Manchester's Police Force

Manchester MP John Leech has joined other Liberal Democrat MPs in taking their fight against Labour's police cuts in Manchester to 10 Downing Street. More than 5,000 petitions were handed in to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary John Reid.

The four Greater Manchester Liberal Democrat MPs have been leading a campaign against further cuts of officers and funding for Greater Manchester Police (GMP). So far they have collected over 5,000 signatures from Greater Manchester residents opposed to cuts, with more petitions flooding in all the time.

Following the police cuts, Manchester was left with just 7,849 officers when the Chief Constable Michael Todd has said that 8,000 officers is the absolute minimum he needs although he would prefer closer to 10,000.

Speaking after handing the petitions in, John Leech MP said: "We've shown here today the strength of feeling among local people against the underfunding of GMP. The government has embarked on a costly and unnecessary identity card programme while these cuts are going on. They just have not listened to what the people of Manchester want - more bobbies on the beat!"

"I recently called an emergency debate, which unfortunately was not attended by any of Manchester's Labour MPs. Regrettably, the Minister for policing refused to guarantee any additional money. However, he did confirm that the government would not fine the police authority £2.9m for having too few police officers."

"While I know that police officers in Manchester do a great job, they are making the most of a bad situation. With budget deficits and cuts in officers looming, it looks like the Labour government has simply forgotten about Manchester."

END

Notes to editors:

John Leech MP was joined by Greater Manchester Lib Dem MPs, Mark Hunter, Andrew Stunell and Paul Rowen to hand in over 5,000 petitions to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the Home Secretary, John Reid on Thursday 1st March 2007.

John Leech MP called an adjournment debate entitled "Funding of Greater Manchester Police". It was held in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 23rd January 2006 at 11am.

The debate was attended by Greater Manchester Liberal Democrat MPs John Leech, Mark Hunter, Andrew Stunell and Paul Rowen. There were no Labour MPs representing Manchester constituencies present. The only Greater Manchester Labour MP to attend was Anne Coffey. Also present was Home Office Minister Tony McNulty and Conservative MPs Graham Brady and Nick Herbert.

All four Greater Manchester Liberal Democrat MPs met with Independent Police Authority Chairman Derek Osbaldestin on 24th December to discuss predicted deficits.

Projected police deficits are £1.3m for the financial year 2007-08, £25.9m for 2008-09 and £12.2m for 2009-10.

The government's estimate says that GMP needs a minimum of 7,967 officers. With 7,864 officers at present, Manchester is 103 down on this number and 216 down on the previous year's numbers. GMP would have incurred a £27,710 fine for each officer they are below the government target but it has now confirmed that it has scrapped the police fighting fund.

Total crime figures rose by 4.5% in the period Dec 2005-Nov 2006 compared with Dec 2004-Nov 2005. Violent crimes rose by 9.4% while robberies were up 4.5% in the same period. GMP performance statistics can be found at http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/performancestats.htm