NEIGHBOURHOOD policing in Warrington is under threat from Government cuts, according to MP Helen Jones.
The Warrington North MP (pictured) has launched a campaign to protect front line policing with a petition calling for “No Cuts to Bobbies on the Beat”. 
She said: “Bobbies on the beat make us all feel safer in our homes and communities. Neighbourhood policing relies on having policing teams on our streets protecting our communities, fighting crime and listening to residents’ concerns.
“At the election I stood on a Labour Party Manifesto that committed to halving the deficit by making some tough choices. But we prioritised the police and committed to maintaining police funding. The Tories made no such commitment, despite warm words from David Cameron during the campaign. In opposition the Lib Dems called for 3,000 more police officers.
“Both parties have let people down. One of the first acts of the new coalition was to slash the police budget for this year. With the spending review in October the real cuts for the next few years will be announced and I am asking people in Warrington to stand up for their community.
“I will be taking my petition out on the streets of Poplars this weekend and would encourage anyone who wants crime to continue to fall to sign-up. You can email me at [email protected] to support my campaign.”
Shadow Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “Cutting police officers is not the way to fight crime and anti-social behaviour.
“The Coalition Government has its priorities wrong. They advocate putting fewer serious criminals in prison and restricting the ability of the police to use the DNA database and CCTV to catch criminals at the same time as cutting police budgets.
“Whilst everyone recognises that the deficit must be reduced, safety has to come first. Frontline policing should be prioritised. Fewer police and PCSOs will mean higher crime rates and more dangerous streets.”
MP's warning over policing
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
3 Comments
If her party hadn’t got us into this financial mess in the first place, we wouldn’t even ne thinking this. But when the front page gives the story of £50 million cutbacks, just “where” will it all come from.
A big saving would be to cut the number of cllrs and have 2 for each neighbourhood area.
Hellen Jone jumping in with the old cliches again…”No cuts for bobbies on the beat”…cuts ! how could you cut zero. thanks to labour there are no Bobbies on beat anymore. Theres the occasional Special or Community Officer and when I say occasiona I mean bi monthly, I cannot recall seeing a fully fledged policeman walking the urban streets for TEN YEARS. maybe the od one in town on a saturday night.
Theres been more sightings of the Loch Ness Monster in the past ten years than Bobbies on the beat.
Why’s the petition only going to the streets of Poplars ? Look forward to seeing her walking the beat and collecting signatures in ALL areas of Warrington as it’s a Warrington issue. I’ll sign if she comes over this way 🙂