End the Cuts event – Southport

Photo: Jane Kennedy, Central 12 Shopping Park – Derby Road, Southport

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner was today asking people to show their support for the police at this community road show, Thursday November 19.

Jane Kennedy and her team are holding a series of community events in busy supermarkets and shopping centres across the region when she will be asking people to add their signatures to her petition to End the Cuts to Merseyside Police.

The petition, which the Commissioner jointly launched with Merseyside Police Federation, calls upon the Prime Minister David Cameron to put an end to the budget cuts, which are forcing Merseyside Police to consider cutting all their PCSOs, disband the mounted section and the basic command unit structure which has served the Force for 40 years.

In total, the cuts could see the Force lose a further 1,400 people from a workforce which has already been reduced by 1,600 people since 2010.

The Commissioner and the Federation are now urging people across the region to help Merseyside Police by signing the petition HERE or by attending one of these community road show events.

They intend to submit the final petition to the Government before November 25th when the Chancellor will announce the funding for the police for the next three years.

Jane said: “There was an overwhelming response to the open letter I put out to the public of Merseyside last week and I am grateful for all the messages of support and understanding which I received.

“Now I am urging the people of Merseyside to help the police by asking the Prime Minster to bring these cuts an end.

“The Chief Constable and I have worked really hard to make the police as efficient as they can be. We have streamlined every process. We have improved communications and equipment. It is no longer a case of improving efficiency; if the cuts are to be made next year we will have to fundamentally change the way policing is delivered to the detriment of everyone who lives here.

“The sad reality is that our police service will not be able to provide the really effective crime prevention, community safety and victim support services it has done in recent years. The danger is it will become an emergency only response to 999 calls.

“From all the messages, emails and letters I have received, I don’t believe this is what people on Merseyside want from their police service and the Federation and I are standing together to ask Merseysiders for their help.”

Merseyside Police has already been forced to cut its budget by £77 million since 2010, with a further £48 million worth of cuts already being demanded by the Government the end of the financial year 2018/2019. This means they must cut the strength of the Force from 7,300 in 2010 to 4,400 by 2019.

This position looks even bleaker now the Government has revealed its proposed new funding formula for policing, which may see a further 2.2% cut from the budget. It is also anticipated that the savings required in the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review will also be worse than expected when it is announced in November.

In the joint petition, the Commissioner and the Federation urge the Prime Minister to “end the damaging cuts to the budget of Merseyside Police” saying: “If the cuts don’t stop now, Merseyside Police will lose all PCSOs, the entire mounted section and will be forced to cut 1,000 more police officers and staff.

“Further cuts will affect the teams which fight serious and organised crime, investigate rape and sexual violence and tackle hate crime. They will also affect the Force’s ability to provide neighbourhood policing to Merseyside’s communities, as it is depleted from a strength of more than 7,300 in 2010 to less than 4,500 in 2019.”

They warn him that the cuts may “seriously weaken Merseyside Police’s ability to keep us safe from harm.”

Show your support and sign the petition here.

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