Police numbers cut due to Labour shortfall

4.41.06pm GMT Sat 23rd Feb 2008

Liberal Democrat Hertfordshire Police Authority member Cllr Michael Colne said:

'It's a sad reality that whilst the Labour government have been keen to shout about increased police numbers it has not been matched by their enthusiasm for funding.

'The result is that this year we will see a REDUCTION in police numbers from 2166 to 2148. It may not seem like much, but it could be the thin end of a very thick wedge.'

Cllr Allan Witherick who also sits on the Police Authority added:

'If Hertfordshire had got the funding it should have had for policing, based on the Government's own formula, we would have had an extra £3.251m. This is money which would not only have stopped the cut backs this year of 18 Police officers, but also funded more bobbies on the beat, which is what people want.

'Instead the Police Authority are being forced to put up Council Tax faster than inflation.

'The one saving grace has been the hard work put in by our local officers which has helped prevent us from having to make a double digit increase in the policing part of Council Tax like some other police authority areas.

'But how long will it be before we can't find more savings?'

Notes:

For more details contact:

Cllr Michael Colne, Liberal Democrat Spokesman on the Police Authority

Cllr Allan Siao Ming Witherick 07957 464569 a@witherick.org.uk

The information is from the 22 February 2008 Full Authority meeting

http://www.herts-police-authority.org.uk/committees_and_working_groups/Police%20Authority/2008/full_authority_22-02-08/Agenda_full_authority_22-02-08.htm

The references to police numbers are on Agenda Paper 9, p18, 8.1.

The references to the underfunding are on Agenda Paper 9, p2. 1.2(ii)