Five thousand strong petition goes to Prime Minister

Date published: 26 February 2007

A five thousand strong petition protesting at the cut of 216 police officers in Greater Manchester will be presented at 10 Downing Street Thursday 1 March at noon, by Councillor Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Heywood and Middleton, and the area’s four Liberal Democrat Members of Parliament - Paul Rowen, Mark Hunter, John Leech, and Andrew Stunell. 

Paul Rowen MP, said: "This year we have lost 216 police officers in Greater Manchester and crime has gone up. The people of Greater Manchester are understandably very angry that Labour Government funding cuts have made our streets less safe.  Locally here in Rochdale we have lost 30 officers since 2004 and that is wholly unacceptable.  Rising crime in Rochdale is a top concern for local residents and cuts in police numbers are harming the fight against crime and disorder – this is one of the biggest issues in my Postbag. At a recent meeting with the Chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority it was made clear that, with the current level of government funding, there is no chance of restoring the police officers lost this year.  Each year the Labour government hold back £14 million, that its own formula says Greater Manchester deserves, to send to police forces down south. Worse still the Labour Government won’t say when this will end. Already Greater Manchester has sent a massive £35 million to forces in the south.  Our petition has been hugely popular in Rochdale and across Greater Manchester – we hope that the huge amount of petitions will send a clear message to the Prime Minister that the funding crisis in Rochdale and Greater Manchester needs to be sorted.  The Liberal Democrats are backing the Chief Constable in his call for extra officers with this petition."

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Heywood and Middleton, said: "More local people are signing the Liberal Democrat petition to get our 216 officers back with every day that passes. This week we are taking the message directly to the Prime Minister that the people of Greater Manchester will not put up with rising crime in their area whilst police numbers have fallen under Labour. It is time for Tony Blair and the government to start listening."