Hull MP calls for rethink as Police numbers plummet

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has called on the Government to rethink its approach to policing after today's figures showing Humberside losing 157 police officers since March 2010.

Nationally Police numbers have fallen to the lowest for a decade.

The figures show that there are now 8,000 fewer officers on the streets, at a time when personal crime, which includes theft and violence, has gone up by a startling 11 per cent -- the biggest increase in a decade.

Labour is calling for the Government to reopen the police funding settlement when it is debated in Parliament next month.

Hull North MP and Shadow Crime Minister Diana Johnson said: "Hull people will have serious concerns about the loss of 157 officers in the Humberside Police area under this Government between March 2010 and September 2011.

"The deepest cuts to policing budgets will hit this year and HMIC estimate the loss of 16,000 officers through this Parliament. This comes after Nick Clegg promised 3,000 more Police at the 2010 Election, in full knowledge of the deficit.

"Hull people are concerned about rising crime under the Coalition and value the work that local police officers do in our community. The Coalition plans even more cuts to our frontline Policing and I will be voting against these cuts next month."

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP said: "The scale of Government cuts has led to the biggest fall in national police numbers in decades at the same time as we are seeing the biggest increase in personal crime.

"David Cameron and Theresa May are letting down communities and turning their backs on the police. They should be battling to cut crime, but they are just cutting the police instead.

"Police numbers have fallen to the lowest for a decade, with 8,000 fewer officers since the election and 6,000 since last year alone. At the same time personal crime including theft and violence has gone up by 11 per cent -- the biggest increase in a decade.

"The Home Secretary's 20 per cent cuts go much further than the 12 per cent recommended by the independent inspectorate and supported by Labour.

"The Prime Minister's decision to cut policing too far and too fast when many crimes are increasing is putting communities at risk. MPs of all parties should vote against the scale of Government's cuts to their local police force in Parliament on February 8."