MPs put pressure on Home Secretary over police funding

FIVE Cheshire MPs, led by Warrington South’s Faisal Rashid, have written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid raising concern about police funding.
They have asked for assurances that Cheshire Police will have the resources they need to keep local communities safe.
Their letter follows expressions of concern about the detrimental impact of police cuts in the county from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Acting Chief Constable.
Cheshire Constabulary has faced £60 million worth of cuts since 2010 and is expected to make a further £12 million worth of cuts in the next two years. Concerns over the impact of these cuts have already been raised by UNISON and the Cheshire Police Federation.
In their letter the MPs share their concerns about rising crime figures and the impact of budget cuts on the safety of their constituents. They also raise concerns about the Government’s decision to expect commissioners to fill the budget gaps by increasing the policing precept, meaning the cost falls locally.
The MPs – Faisal Rashid, Laura Smith, Justin Madders, Mike Amesbury and Chris Matheson – have pledged to do all they can to secure a fairer funding settlement for police in Cheshire – a settlement that ensures police officers have the resources they need to tackle crime in their local communities.