The Knutsford Guardian carried a story last week about the town’s MP visiting a local police station to thank officers who had travelled to London during the riots...
The Knutsford Guardian carried a story last week about the town’s MP visiting a local police station to thank officers who had travelled to London and Manchester to reinforce the thin blue line during the riots:
“The police officers who confronted the mindless thuggery in our cities represent the very best of Britain,” the MP opined.
“I met some of them in Knutsford and heard about the brilliant job they did in restoring order and arresting the senseless thugs who brought shame on our country.
“Above all I wanted to say thank you for risking their own safety to protect the security of the law-abiding majority.”
However, Simon Roberts, the chairman of the Cheshire branch of the Police Federation, which represents those rank and file officers, was not impressed by the visiting politician’s flattery.
“The actions of these officers comes at a time when the home secretary and the government seem intent on reducing the policing budget to such an extent that officer numbers nationally will be reduced by 16,000.
“My message to our political leaders is clear: think long and hard before reducing officer numbers. It may not be as easy next time to find 16,000 officers to restore order when the number of officers nationally have been reduced by such large numbers.”
The MP in question should take note of the impact spending cuts are having on police numbers. He is also well-placed to do something about it. He is chancellor George Osborne.
10 Responses to “Local MP well-placed to lobby on police cuts”
David Harney
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Bristol NUJ
Local MP well-placed to lobby on police cuts: http://t.co/Jvc65X8 reports Kevin Meagher
Shamik Das
Local MP well-placed to lobby on police cuts: http://t.co/Jvc65X8 reports Kevin Meagher
Political Planet
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phil dilks
Local MP well-placed to lobby on police cuts: http://t.co/Jvc65X8 reports Kevin Meagher