Labour Party News

Tory plans for sudden cuts would be equivalent to slashing more than 3500 police officers

Jacqui Smith, Labour’s Home Secretary, has today written to her shadow counterpart Dominic Grieve, to express her concern about the Tories’ proposed cut of £160m from the Home Office budget.

On Monday, David Cameron announced a new policy to restrict the growth of the Home Office budget to a 1 per cent real terms increase for 2009/10.

This policy would mean suddenly cutting £160 million from the Home Office for the next year – putting at risk necessary investment to support the police and tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Jacqui Smith MP, Labour’s Home Secretary, said:

“We all know the important role played by each of our police officers in keeping our neighbourhoods and our country safe.

“There are now Neighbourhood Policing Teams at work in every area of England and Wales – and since 1997, police numbers are up by more than 14,000 nationwide, alongside nearly 16,000 Community Support Officers.

“I’m committed to making sure there’s a visible police presence on our streets. Unfortunately, David Cameron cannot say the same. His plans for sudden cuts in the Home Office budget would be equivalent to slashing the number of police officers by more than 3500.”

Labour Matters is supportive of Labour but not an official Labour Party publication.
© of all articles and any photos remain with the author.
The Labour Rose icon - © The Labour Party.
Labour Matters website © 2009.