MP Meets Police Chiefs Over Funding Crisis

12.19.03pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 31st Oct 2003

Vincent Cable MP hosted a meeting in the House of Commons on Monday 27th October for Chief Constables and Chairs of Police Authorities to explain their growing sense of alarm over their funding position next financial year.

At present there is a serious funding gap because their government funding is rising by 2.5% per annum and their costs - after increased commitments, rising pay and pensions - are rising by 6.6%. Something has to give: a cut in frontline services or another big increase in the police precept on council tax.

Vincent Cable MP, Chair of the All Party Police Group said that: "I am pleased that we are now getting more officers in the Borough as well as the uniformed community support officers. But there has been a high financial cost which many people are paying in higher council tax bills. The Chief Constables spelt out that next year there will be painful choices next year."

Dee Doocey the Lib Dem South West London spokesperson said that the "London position was complicated

"My own view is that there has to be some new thinking on police funding. Those who create major additional demands on police time should pay. For example licensees rather than taxpayers should be paying for the cost of intensive policing of town centres late at night. Big public events requiring heavy policing like major RFU fixtures, should also be paid for at cost."

"If these issues are not grasped quickly we will soon be faced with a choice between unacceptable cuts in the police and unacceptable further council tax increases."