Cheshire police reductions revealed in Home Office report (From Crewe Guardian)

Cheshire police reductions revealed in Home Office report

8:00am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News By Matthew Taylor

FIGURES released in a new Home Office report indicate that there are fewer police officers in Cheshire than last year.

The Government’s Police Service Strength for England and Wales document indicates that policing numbers fell from 2,155 in May 2010, to 2,011 in May 2012 - a total of 144 fewer officers.

The numbers are projected to drop further - to 1,973 by March 2013.

Nationally, the report shows there are 8.8 per cent fewer full time police officers on the streets.

The figures are their lowest for nearly a decade, prompting Labour’s new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate, John Stockton, to call for a Government rethink on staffing levels.

“The Government need to realise that you don’t cut crime by cutting 144 police officers.

“Cheshire Constabulary's capacity to prevent crime, detect and arrest criminals is being undermined by cuts that go too far, too fast.

“Police budgets have been cut by 20 per cent, and in four years here in Cheshire we will lose nearly 250 police officers, reducing the force to less than 2,000 police.”

Mr Stockton said the reductions ‘cannot be good in helping to reduce crime in Cheshire’.

“I’m calling on the Government to think again to save the vital police officer jobs that protect our community,” he added. The full home office report can be viewed at www.homeoffice.gov.uk