Jo Crotty calls for more local control to safeguard police numbers

1.34.13pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 19th Sep 2008

Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice talks with Jo Crotty about the funding of Warrington's police.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Warrington South Councillor Jo Crotty has called for greater local control over police funding to put a stop to any future threat of cuts in officers. Speaking at her party's national conference in Bournemouth Dr Crotty said, "The best people to set local police priorities are the local police along with local councils and other key local stakeholders. The best people to set budgets are local police authorities who understand the issues on the ground, and the best people to decide on police funding are local police authorities who know the best way to spend the money."

"We can not stand by while the Labour Government's bureaucratic system threatens to tie the hands of local authorities who know we need more police officers, not fewer."

"This year in Warrington we faced cuts of up to 120 police officers as the Labour Government threatened us with a cap. This was directly against the wishes of the police authority, and most importantly, local people in Warrington."

"The best option would be for the Labour Government to fund our police properly. If they will not provide us with that basic service then they must get out of the way when local people and local bodies take the necessary decisions to keep our streets safe."

"It should not be left to the bureaucrats in Whitehall to decide how many police officers we need on the streets of our local towns."

Dr Crotty also met with the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice Chris Huhne MP to talk about Warrington's battle with the Labour Government over the right to properly fund our police force.

Dr Crotty has featured prominently in policy debates during this year's conference and also spoke out on pensions. On Sunday Dr Crotty said, "We should celebrate the centenary of the state pension by taking pensioners out of poverty, restoring the link with earnings, and making entitlement on the basis of citizenship, not contribution."