Cuts could mean 285 fewer Police in Humberside

Savage funding cuts by the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition Government could mean 285 fewer police officers across Humberside, according to Hull North MP Diana Johnson.

The figure is based on applying equally across the country an estimate from the Police Federation that around 20,000 police officers could be lost over the next four years. Accountants KPMG also estimate similar cuts in police numbers of around 18,000 because of Coalition cuts.

The Hull North MP and Shadow Policing Minister, who recently started a Hull petition against police cuts, said that 20% cuts in central government funding for policing announced in the Spending Review would undermine the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour in Hull.

Diana Johnson MP said: "The Tories and Lib Dems have failed to protect policing and the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. These reckless cuts will hit our area hard.

"Cuts of 20% over the next few years will, I fear, be impossible without major cuts to the number of police on the street and in programmes to tackle and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities.

"The Police Federation says that there could be 20,000 fewer police officers because of Government funding cuts. That would mean around 285 fewer police officers in Humberside. Having fewer police with fewer powers would be terrible news for Hull, undermining the progress that we have made in fighting crime over the past decade.

"Labour pledged to protect funding to keep the record number of police officers and Police Community Support Officers that we have had across the country in recent years.

"I intend to meet with Humberside's Chief Constable to discuss how we can minimise the impact of these severe cuts on policing in Hull. I will oppose Coalition policing cuts all the way in Parliament."

Shadow Home Secretary Ed Balls MP added: "By front-loading these cuts with the biggest cuts next year and the year after it will be even more difficult to minimise the impact on frontline policing through efficiency savings.

"The Home Secretary has abjectly failed to fight the corner of the police in these Spending Review negotiations and it will fall to the Labour Party in Hull and across the country to stand up for the law-abiding public against these reckless cuts."

Hull North people wanting to support the petition against police cuts should contact Diana Johnson MP at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or e-mail johnsond@parliament.uk.

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