Give us our Bobbies back
The briefing will give Lancashire MPs the opportunity to hear from the County’s Police and Crime Commissioner about the challenges policing in Lancashire is facing and what the proposed 20,000 additional police officers from Boris Johnson could mean for Lancashire Constabulary.
As a result of over nine years of austerity, Lancashire Constabulary has lost 750 police officers since 2010 and has had to make savings of £84m with a further £18m to be found by 2023.
Commenting, Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, stated “I am in Westminster today to update MPs on my ongoing concerns around police funding and I am calling on Boris Johnson to give Lancashire its Bobbies back.
“Despite the Prime Minister promising to recruit an extra 20,000 officers across the country, crucially he has yet to provide any details on the allocations of the recruitment funding. A fair proportion of these officers must be given to Lancashire and put back where they are needed.
“Lancashire has been one of the hardest hit by austerity and I’m calling on the Prime Minister to match Lancashire’s ambition to recruit the 750 police officers lost since 2010.
“Whilst I welcome a pledge of £750 million to begin the process of recruiting, this commitment only extends to 6,000 officers until March 2021. We need proper assurances about how policing will be funded in the long term and one year gifts will not suffice.
“Police funding cannot keep coming at the expense of hard working Lancashire council tax payers. Permanent funding needs to come from government grant increases and not from further council tax increases.
“Together with MPs, I am standing up for Lancashire to ensure we receive a fair funding settlement which is sustainable and reflects the unique circumstances that Lancashire faces as a police service.”
