COUGH UP ...OR LOSE YER COPS

Stark warning on beat bobbies

A POLICE chief has warned he may have to reduce his beat bobbies unless the Government find his force more cash.

Since 2010, Cheshire Constabulary has made more than £60million in cutbacks due to austerity, inflation and budget issues.

The force revealed they will have to axe 250 officers as it needs to make £12m savings.

UK police obtain funds from three sources – the Home Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government and council tax.

Now the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane has asked his residents for views on whether to raise the council tax policing precepts by £2 a month.

Blasting the Government for a lack of funding and support, Mr Keane stressed without the extra money they could lose crucial frontline officers.

And he said by forcing police to get extra funds through council tax, the Government is “pitting the police against the local population”.

He said: “We have a stark choice – to either fund this locally or significantly cut policing numbers.”

Last month Policing Minister Nick Hurd announced a new funding settlement for UK forces worth up to £970m in 2019/20.

But £500m will come from allowing Police and Crime Commissioners to raise council tax contributions.