Police chiefs in appeal for fairer budget
POLICE chiefs have written to Cheshire’s MPs including Derek Twigg and Mike Amesbury to ask them to press the Government for ‘a fairer funding settlement’ for Cheshire Constabulary.
David Keane, Cheshire’s Police And Crime Commissioner (PCC), and Acting Chief Constable Janette McCormick sent the letter following what a spokeswoman for Mr Keane described as a ‘disappointing Budget announcement’ by the Chancellor, which lacked any indication of increasing support for ‘overstretched local police budgets’ or for ‘crippling pension changes introduced by Government’.
The PCC and ACC McCormick have warned that Cheshire Constabulary could lose 250 police officers over the next two years as a result of £12m savings it estimates the Government will require it to make.
The commissioner said Cheshire has had £60m slashed from its annual budget since 2010.
Mr Keane is reported to be pursuing the issue of funding challenges through his national work with the Association Of Police And Crime Commissioners and the acting chief constable is doing the same through the National Police Chief’s Council.
The commissioner said: “The Chancellor claims austerity is over but policing in Cheshire is still feeling the brunt of severe Government cuts.
“I have serious concerns about the constabulary’s financial position and the pressure it’s under with the complexity of crime increasing and resources diminishing.
“The Government has cut and cut again at our budget and our already thin blue line is now at breaking point.”
He added: “With nonpay budgets now over stretched, we’ll have no choice but to streamline our front-line workforce.
“Reducing officer num- ● bers would have a significant impact on how we deliver vital services to residents of Cheshire.
“With other public services also at breaking point, we could see the impact of these harsh cuts for generations.
“We need more funding to be able to deliver an effective service which keeps our communities safe.”
A/CC McCormick said: “We have exploited efficiency and non-pay savings as much as possible to protect our front-line work force but those budgets are now overstretched and unless additional funding is sought, changes will have to be made in how policing in Cheshire is delivered in the future.
“We will have to prioritise to ensure we protect our emergency response service and continue to safeguard individuals.
“But as a result of any further cuts, we would need to look differently at how we respond to our current non-emergency service and how we work with partners.”