In the Commons today, David Cameron reiterated his claim that cuts to police budgets would not affect front-line officers. But the facts do not support him.
In the Commons today, David Cameron reiterated his claim that cuts to police budgets would not affect front-line officers. But the facts do not support him.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister told the Commons that “cash reductions” in police budgets were “totally achievable without any reductions in visible policing”. He went on to say that:
“We will still be able to surge as many police officers on to the streets as we have in recent days in London, Wolverhampton and Manchester.”
During last year’s election, Cameron promised not to cut “frontline spending“. But as IPPR’s Matt Cavanagh explains on Labour Uncut:
“To justify his assertion that the cuts will not affect the front line, or visible patrolling, Cameron chose to discuss his own local force, Thames Valley. This choice was either ignorant, or disingenuous.
“A glance at the graph on page 22 of the HMIC report shows the difference in the scale of the challenge faced by Thames Valley Police, in trying to protect the front line from spending cuts, compared to those forces who have been dealing with the riots, including the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside. Thames Valley Police would have to reduce their non-front-line officers by just under 50%, in order to avoid cutting into the front line. That is challenging, but arguably possible. By contrast, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside forces would have to cut their non-front-line officers by 100%. Even those who hold the simplistic view that almost all ‘back office’ jobs are unnecessary would have to admit that to cut at this level without affecting front line police numbers is simply impossible.”
The graph in question is here.
Supporting Cavanagh’s analysis, Channel 4’s fact check concluded last month that, “lower budgets do mean lower numbers of police officers. Officer numbers are expected to drop 11 per cent in four years and although it is holding up well, even the hallowed frontline will be 2 per cent thinner by next year.”
18 Responses to “Cameron “ignorant or disingenuous” on frontline police cuts”
Watching You
Cameron “ignorant or disingenuous” on frontline police cuts l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/qz351z
Wendy Denton
RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron "ignorant or disingenuous" on frontline police cuts http://t.co/3LH39t1 Wrong agagain.
Dave Citizen
To be fair, I think it’s ignorant ‘and’ disingenuous.
Kevin Richards
What do we believe RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron "ignorant or disingenuous" on frontline police cuts http://t.co/Gg4CJod
Mr. Sensible
Mr Mouse, the point is, if police resources are stretched now as it is, what will things be like if this disgraceful behaviour kicks off after the cuts have kicked in?
Cameron is living in complete denial. He talks about jobs going from back offices, but I pointed out before how in some parts of the country, they’re actually having police officers doing back office jobs.
Why don’t they get rid of the completely unnecessary proposals on police commissioners and let the police get on with their job?