Lib Dems protest against cuts to local police service

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 29th Feb 2008

Labour's cuts will mean more than 100 less bobbies on the beat in our region

Liberal Democrats in Sheffield are set to protest against cuts to the local police service at next weeks full Council meeting. The move comes in the wake of the South Yorkshire Police announcing that they would have to cut over 100 front line police officers next year. The shock news of the reduction of 106 front line police officers came when the Police Authority set its budget for next year a few days ago.

This comes on top of other cuts to the local police service, such as the threat to close several local police stations and police boxes and the Government withdrawing funding for the anti-social behaviour 101 service.

Liberal Democrats believe that the Police Authority have been forced to make the cuts due to lack of funding from the Government. Lib Dems believe that a reduction in front line police officers is the last thing local people want to see as crime is a key issue across Sheffield and the wider region.

The Lib Dem motion, set to be discussed at Council next week, will call on the Government to use funding to increase the number of police officers rather than waste billions on ineffective gimmicks such as compulsory national ID cards.

If the Lib Dem motion is successful, Sheffield City Council will write to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary to demand that Sheffield's local police force is properly funded.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council, said: -

"When we talk to local people about what makes them feel safe in their own neighbourhood they tell us that a high police presence is one of the key factors. Therefore local people will be shocked at the news that there will be around 100 less font line police officers on our streets."

"It's clear that the Police Authority have been forced into this due to the lack of funding from the Labour Government. It comes on top of other cuts to our local service including the Government withdrawing the money for the 101 anti-social behaviour number."

"Despite all the tough talk on crime and anti-social behaviour, it's clear that Labour prefer ineffective headline grabbing gimmicks. Instead of wasting billions on things like national ID cards the Government should fund our local police service so that they can avoid these damaging cuts."

"I hope the whole Council can rally behind our call to support our local Police force next week. Only this way can we send a strong message to the Government that we want more, not less, police on our streets."